Indian exporters keeping an eye on China’s ‘influenza’ cases
New Delhi: Expressing concern over rising ‘influenza’ cases in China, domestic exporters on Sunday said they are monitoring the situation carefully as a surge in the disease could again impact global supply chains and world trade. He said the current situation is not worrisome but if the disease spreads to other parts of the world, it will impact world trade as China is the center of global manufacturing and exports.
The government had said on November 24 that the country was prepared to deal with any emergency arising from the ‘influenza’ situation in China and was closely monitoring the H9N2 outbreak and respiratory illness situation among children in that country. Had been. The Union Health Ministry said the threat to India is low with cases of avian influenza, H9N2, as well as the respiratory disease being reported in China. Some media reports indicate an increase in cases of respiratory illness among children in northern China.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued a statement in this regard. Rafiq Ahmed, chairman of Farida Group, a leading leather exporter, said, “We are monitoring the situation. If the diseases spread, it will impact trade. Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahay said, “We are definitely worried and most things depend on its spread. The next five days will be very important.” Mumbai-based exporter Khalid Khan said the global supply chain was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. If existing diseases spread in China, it could again impact the chain.
Khan said, “We are monitoring the situation. There is no need to panic as of now.” Ludhiana-based engineering exporter SC Ralhan said that so far no problem has arisen in the global supply chain and their imports from the neighboring country are continuing smoothly. China is a major trading partner of India. Imports from China stood at US$ 60 billion in April-October 2023, while it was US$ 60.26 billion in the same period in 2022. India’s exports to China increased to US$ 8.92 billion in the seven months of the current financial year, from US$ 8.85 billion in April-October 2022.