Image Source: TRIBUNE

The government will kick-start a feedback initiative from the industry on Tuesday about the challenges and opportunities due to the massive disruption of production in China following the coronavirus outbreak.

With little possibility of shipments from China for a month, the meeting to be convened by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hear trade representatives and dwell on the impact on the domestic industry, especially on speciality chemicals, pharma, toys and electronics. The meeting is also expected to hear the measures that could switch production of some of these items to India.

“After all, the intention behind raising the import duty on toys in this Budget was to encourage their manufacturing in India. High duties on some mobile components, such as chargers, also had this aim in mind. Over 90 per cent of these imports of both items is from China from where there has been no shipment since January 15. Can the industry work out means to accelerate the Indian production during the time the Chinese factories are shut?’’ wondered a source.