India’s toy exports increased 60 per cent from USD 203.46 million in 2018-19 to USD 325.72 million in 2022-23, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
Import on the other hand dipped 57 per cent from USD 371.69 million in 2018-19 to USD 158.70 million in 2022-23, according to data provided by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash.
He said the government has taken proactive steps to promote domestic toy industry.
“As a result of various steps taken by the government, the volume of import of toys into the Indian market has shown a consistently decreasing trend,” he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
In a separate reply, he said the total number of industries registered under the ministry from January 1991 to July 31, 2023 is 1,10,525.
Replying to a question on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said ONDC has launched a Feet on Street (FoS) programme, involving 90 FoS resources, to support the network participants in identifying and educating sellers about its benefits.
ONDC is a protocol that enables network participants to efficiently exchange goods and services.
“It is taking proactive measures to increase consumer awareness and encourage active participation on the network,” he said.