The share of merchandise exports in the country's GDP has increased from 13.9 per cent in 2009-10 to 17.7 per cent in 2011-12, Parliament was informed today.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D Purandeswari said that exports have always played an important role in the economic development of most countries.
 "This is evident even in Indian case from the continuous upward movement of percentage share of merchandise exports in the overall GDP of India from 13.9 per cent in 2009-10 to 16 per cent in 2010-11 and 17.7 per cent in 2011-12," she said.

She also said that as per the WTO trade statistics, India's share in the total global exports has also been increasing since 2007.

In 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, the country's share in the total global exports stood at 1.07 per cent, 1.21 per cent, 1.31 per cent, 1.48 per cent and 1.67 per cent respectively.

"The long term vision of the government is to make India a major player in world trade and assume a role of leadership in international trade organisations commensurate with India's growing importance," the Minister said.

During April-January period, overseas shipments declined by 4.86 per cent to $ 239.6 billion.