Protectionism will worsen slowdown: Anand Sharma

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Monday said the sharp decline in India's exports over the last few months has been arrested. "The sharp fall in the exports has been arrested.

July 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said he was looking forward to hosting the September meeting among global trade ministers to put the derailed global trade talks back on track. India had proposed to host the mini-ministerial meeting of the 153-member World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the G20 Summit in London, which was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, where leaders agreed to give a political push to trade talks.

July 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will announce more sops for the slowdown-hit exports sector in the export-import policy (Exim) for 2009-10, which will be released next month, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said here Thursday. "There will be certain measures.

July 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will succeed Aditya Birla group chief Kumar Mangalam Birla as chairman of the Board of Trade, an advisory body on export-import related issues, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said Friday. "The commerce and industry minister will be the chairman of the Board of Trade," said DGFT in a notification.

July 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The decline in India's exports due to the global financial crisis has been arrested and a turnaround is now visible, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. "The downward trend has been arrested and now a turnaround is visible," Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said during question hour.

June 24th, 2009 LONDON - The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Wednesday said India was on course to achieving a 7.2 percent growth rate next year but said it was concerned about what it described as the country's increasing protectionism. The OECD said the Indian growth rate would dip to 5.9 percent this year before rising to 7.2 percent in 2010 - an upward revision of its previous forecast of 4.3 percent in 2009 and 5.8 percent the year after.

June 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - India has cautioned nations toying with protectionist measures in the wake of the global economic crisis that such a move would not only be counterproductive, but also deepen the recession and delay recovery. "Any kind of protectionism will not only be counterproductive, but deepen the recession and delay the recovery," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told reporters Thursday at the end of his three-day visit for talks with the US officials.

June 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Indian firms have contributed $105 billion (Rs.5.25 lakh crore) to the US economy between 2004 and 2007 apart from creating 300,000 jobs, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said here late Wednesday. In his address at the US-India Business Council (USIBC) summit, Sharma cited the findings of a study on India Inc's role in the US and said: "During the period 2004-07, the Indian industry had contributed $105 billion to the US economy and created 300,000 jobs." He also released the study, "Contribution of the Indian industry to the US economy", which has been prepared for the India Brand Equity Foundation, an organisation set up by the commerce ministry and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to build positive economic perceptions of India globally.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Wednesday expressed concern over the continuing fall in India's exports and said he would push for sector-specific sops to boost the country's external trade in the upcoming national budget. Speaking to reporters after meeting with representatives of leading export promotion organisations, Sharma said the negative trend in exports may to continue for some more time, but that the government will work to minimise the impact of global slowdown.

May 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister for Commerce (trade) and Industry, Anand Sharma on Friday said that the Government would take all possible steps to stabilise Indian economy in times of global recession. Addressing media after taking charge of his office, Minister for Commerce and Industry said the government will take every possible step to ensure a steady Indian economy, particularly at a time when recessionary trends have upset overall industry and trade around the globe.

May 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said that the Government would take every possible step to stabilise industrial production. Talking to reporters here, Sharma said, "In the present climate, when economies across the world have been adversely affected and there is continuous fall in demand, we would like to ensure that every possible step is taken to ensure that industrial output remains stable." Sharma is taking charge of the trade ministry at a time when India's exports have suffered a severe setback due to the global downturn.

April 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress spokesperson and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani of politicising the issue of terrorism. "Advani is adopting double standards on the issue of terrorism.

February 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Friday brushed aside Pakistan's suggestion that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai did not reach the port city via the sea route and said authorities in Islamabad should speak in one voice on the issue. 'Pakistan has often spoken in different voices (on the Mumbai) carnage,' Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said at a press conference here.

February 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lavishing praise on 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Smile Pinki' for winning the much-coveted Oscars, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anand Sharma Monday said it was 'the finest hour of Indian cinema' on the global stage. The minister congratulated the 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Smile Pinky' team for winning the prestigious Oscar Awards, the information and broadcasting ministry said in a statement Monday.

January 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has conferred his country's highest civilian award on Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma for forging close ties between India and Africa. Sharma, who visited Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast Jan 12-15, was given the award 'in recognition of his distinct role in strengthening India's relationship with Ivory Coast and the African continent'.