Competitiveness of India's Manufacturing Sector: An Assessment of Related Issues

L, lakshmanan and S, Chinngaihlian and Raj, Rajesh (2007): Competitiveness of India's Manufacturing Sector: An Assessment of Related Issues. Published in: RBI Occassional Papers , Vol. Vol. 2, No. Summer 2007 (7 February 2008): pp. 33-77.

Abstract

This paper provides an analytical abstract of various parameters of manufacturing competitiveness of the Indian economy. India's manufacturing exports have risen impressively in the past decade or so and found to be directly linked to the world GDP and inversely related to real effective exchange rate (REER). Indian manufacturing industries have certain inherent strengths and advantages in having a relatively inexpensive, adequate and skilled labour force, cost-effective and competitive prices of goods produced, large manufacturing base and proximity to fast growing Asian markets. India is one of the leading producers and exporters in a number of commodities and enjoys significant advantages in terms of lower labour costs as compared to other economies. Nevertheless, India's competitiveness is lost on account of lower labour productivity and higher input and material costs. To improve the competitiveness of the Indian manufacturing goods, issues like further diversification of export basket, upgradation of export quality, improvement in productivity, increased technology intensity in production, enhanced R&D activity, encouraging business environment, less cumbersome regulatory environment, flexible labour laws, removal of infrastructural bottlenecks and SME related issues need attention of all concerned.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Manufacturing sector, Competitiveness
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Empirical Studies of Trade; L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy > L52 - Industrial Policy ; Sectoral Planning Methods; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O57 - Comparative Studies of Countries; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing > L60 - General

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