Survey on Exports and Future Export Plans of Large Indian Companies: 1970-75

We conducted a survey on exports and future export plans of large Indian companies during 1970-75 with the following objectives in mind: i) to understand the extent of commitment on the part of large Indian manufacturing companies to exports over the period 1970-75; ii) to judge the quality of this commitment as an integral part of corporate strategies and iii) to look at the indicators, if any, of future plans for export development which these companies may have incorporated in their own plans for future growth. This opportunity was also used to ascertain from these companies their feelings on the strong and weak points in government policy towards exports and the extent to which the various policy measures were helping or hurting their attempts at securing a long term foothold for themselves in world markets. This paper presents the main findings of this survey. On the basis of the filled-in questionnaires received by us from 36 large companies we find that systematic planning for export development at unit level is virtually non-existent in India. We conclude this paper by advocating the case for drawing up select list of ‘leading’ units of high potential exports of selected knowledge-based and skill intensive and high value added manufactured product, who should be persuaded to formulate corporate export development plans. Adequate steps should be taken to secure a long term commitment of such units for the growth of exports of selected products. The government should provide all the necessary help to enable these units to successfully implement their plans within the framework of national policies. Such an approach would help to maximize the gains from planned development of exports.