Why in News?

• NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Berry released the third edition of the report titled 'Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022' for the States/UTs of the country, in which Uttarakhand has retained its first position among the Himalayan states.

Key Points:

=> EPI 2022 report to assist in decision-making with sector-specific insights, identify strengths, address gaps and empower state governments to drive growth at scale across India's States and Union Territories (UTs) has been advocated.

=> The report presents a comprehensive analysis of India's export turnover during FY 2021-22, including sector-specific as well as district-level commodity export trends.

=> The EPI 2022 report evaluates the performance of states across four pillars – Policy, Business Environment, Export Ecosystem and Export Performance.

=> The index uses 56 indicators to provide an overall picture of the export preparedness of states and UTs, both at the state and district levels, in terms of exports.

=> A brief description of the four pillars in the index is as follows - The Policy pillar assesses States and Union Territories based on their export policy ecosystem and the institutional structure built around it at the State and District levels.

=> The Business Environment assesses the existing business environment in the State/UT including infrastructural facilities supporting the business, State/UT transport connectivity.

=> The export ecosystem takes into account the export infrastructure in the state along with the research and development activities prevalent in the state to promote innovation and business support to exporters.

=> Export performance is an output-based indicator, which measures the export growth of a state over the previous year and its export-oriented activities and presence in the global market.

=> These pillars are further based on ten sub-pillars – Export Promotion Policy, Institutional Framework, Business Environment, Infrastructural Facilities, Transport Connectivity, Export Facilities, Trade Support, R&D Infrastructure, Diversification in Exports and Steps to Promote Growth Are included.

=> The EPI Report 2022 observed that most of the 'coastal states' have performed well.

=> Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat have been at the forefront of export preparedness among all categories of states across the country.

=> Uttarakhand has made a quantum jump in the Export Readiness Index.

=> In this index ranking, the state has improved to 9th position in the country, while Uttarakhand was ranked 19th in the country in the Export Preparedness Index 2021 ranking.

=> On the other hand, in the Himalayan states, after Uttarakhand, Himachal is in second place and Manipur is in third place.

=> It is known that the state has also implemented a new export and logistics policy.

=> In addition, two products have been selected in each district to increase exports.

=> The infrastructure and facilities for exports are also being strengthened at the district level, which has helped Uttarakhand to rank ninth in the country in the index ranking, while Tamil Nadu ranks first and Madhya Pradesh ranks second.

=> The Chief Minister said that the State Government has made several reforms to promote exports.

=> World class Integrated Industrial Estate has been developed in the state.

=> There are Integrated Container Depots at Pantnagar and Kashipur and Multi Modal Logistics Park at Pantnagar.

=> Efforts are being made to make Dehradun and Pantnagar airports of the state as international level airports.

=> To promote air travel, turbo fuel has been reduced by 18 percent.

=> Aroma Park, Electronics Manufacturing Cluster, Pharma City-II, and Plastic Park are being developed in the state.

=> Pharma, automobile, dairy products, vegetable products, honey, food items, mineral products, chemical products, plastic, rubber, wood products, textiles, transport-related products, and defence equipment are mainly exported from the state.

=> In the state, pickles in Almora, natural fibres, copper craft, organic wool in Bageshwar, iron utensils in Champawat, dairy products, apples in Uttarkashi, fish and herbs in Chamoli, maize products in Dehradun, pharma, sugarcane products in Haridwar, automobiles, Pharma, Aipen craft in Nainital, wood craft in Pauri, multi-grain, carpet in Pithoragarh, honey, herbs, spices in Tehri, bakery production in Udham Singh Nagar, export of rice, mentha in Rudraprayag will be increased.

=> Year-wise export status in the state: