Majority of export units can gradually re-start operations after manufacturing in special economic zones, export oriented units, units outside municipal limits/rural areas and industrial estates and townships is allowed to resume on April 20 as per the revised guidelines for Covid-19 containment issued by the Centre.

As per Federation of Indian Export Organisations this will help in opening of about 80-85 per cent of the manufacturing gradually and bring exports and manufacturing back on track. A positive signal will go out to the world that India is confident of containing Covid-19 through its well thought out and early measures.

FIEO noted that the decision would also give a psychological boost to migrant workers who were getting desperate with the extended lockdown. Exporters of apparels, one of India’s largest labor-intensive export sectors, want the government to allow all garment export units, irrespective of where they are located, to resume production.

The government’s decision to allow operations of seaports and inland container depots for cargo transport, including authorized custom clearing and forwarding agents, has also come as a shot in the arm for exporters as units were facing major hindrances in transporting goods, already manufactured before the lockdown, to the ports for shipping.