Synopsis
West Bengal hosts the highest number of MSMEs in the country and they play a vital role in the state economy.
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Export bodies and organizations jointly have written to the state government for relaxation for their survival and export commitments.
KOLKATA: In the wake of the extension of COVID-19 induced restrictions till June 15 in West Bengal, the Small and Medium Enterprises and exporters have sought relaxation from restrictions for their survival.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday extended the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions till June 15.
SMEs have urged the chief minister that the extension of restrictions without amendments or relief will adversely affect the micro medium and small enterprises (MSME) of the state.
Covid ‘infects’ shipment of leather exporters
May 20, 2021
Work has restarted in a limited way as per Tamil Nadu Government mandated restrictions in a leather footwear MSME export unit in Guindy Industrial Estate, Chennai. Photo : Bijoy Ghosh - Businessline
Work has restarted in a limited way as per Tamil Nadu Government mandated restrictions in a leather footwear MSME export unit in Guindy Industrial Estate, Chennai. Photo : Bijoy Ghosh - Businessline×
Skeletal staff and shortage of sea containers is a concern despite exporters having enough orders
Leather exporters have enough orders on hand, but skeletal staff strength and shortage of sea containers is threatening to delay the shipment to global customers. Every year, April to June is the peak running time for leather units and export shipment starts from June 15. However, leather units are worried that this will get delayed this year.
India’s union territory of Delhi has extended its lockdown a second time for another week due to an ongoing surge in Covid-19 cases and shortages of beds and oxygen at hospitals.
India reports highest number of daily Covid-19 deaths
From CNN s Manveena Suri in New Delhi
A priest performs the last rites of a patient who died of Covid-19 amid burning funeral pyres on May 1, in New Delhi, India. Anindito Mukherjee/Getty Images
At least 3,689 Covid-19 deaths were reported in India on Sunday, the highest number identified in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic.
To date, at least 215,542 people have died. according to figures released by the country’s health ministry.
Authorities reported another 392,488 new Covid-19 cases Sunday, the 11th consecutive day of more than 300,000 cases. That figure crossed 400,000 for the first time on Saturday.
How India s Covid-19 crisis is slamming its economy
From CNN s Parija Kavilanz
India s government locked down the country last year to avoid an out-of-control Covid-19 outbreak that so many of the world s countries had endured. The plan was largely successful, but it crippled India s economy in the process.
Now India is facing its own devastating Covid-19 crisis, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reluctant to put his economy through another round of turmoil.
India s economy may get crushed again regardless.
That s beginning to play out in India s leather industry.
India is a major global exporter of leather and leather goods. The country is the second-largest exporter of leather garments and fourth-largest exporter of leather goods in the world, according to the Indian Council for Leather Exports (a division of India s Ministry of Commerce & Industry). It is also a major producer of footwear after China, producing nearly 3 billion pairs of shoes annually.