MUMBAI: “India’s exports have seen a huge rise in the last decade to reach a historic level and the momentum is likely to continue for the next decade. Phenomena favorable to the export sector are taking place in India, especially in Maharashtra. In this scenario, Indian entrepreneurs should grab the opportunities in the export sector at the right time,” advised Masala King Dr. Dhananjay Datar, CMD, Adil Group of Superstores, Dubai, UAE.
He was speaking as Chief Guest at the Maharashtra Business Enclave 2025, an event organized by Miti Group. This conference took place recently at Welingkar Institute of Management, Matunga, and was attended by entrepreneurs and many renowned personalities from the industry and business sectors of Maharashtra.
Datar said, “India is set to become a $5 trillion economy in the next couple of years and export will hold a lion’s share in achieving this target. The Indian government has started many ambitious schemes to encourage local exporters. The new Foreign Trade Policy was announced two years ago. Infrastructure projects, necessary to Industry-Business-Trade, which began a decade ago, are in the completion stage now. This will boost the local volume, as well as the export of products and services manifold. If the ambitious multinational mega project like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) gets completed in the coming decade, there will be a huge rise in Indian exports to Europe, and time and cost will also be saved considerably. In India, revolutionary projects like the Dedicated Freights Corridor (DFC), Samruddhi Mahamarg, and Navi Mumbai International Airport will be operational soon. The recently announced Wadhwan International Port project, after getting completed, will surely make Maharashtra a forerunner in Indian export. The next five to ten years are crucial to trade and export development and hence entrepreneurs should ash the opportunities well in time.”
He further said, “I have witnessed the construction of Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and JNPT port in Navi Mumbai 4 decades ago and also seen the fast development of adjoining areas once these projects started commencing operations. Now the same opportunity will come to us once the Wadhwan port is completed in a decade. This project alone will fetch myriad opportunities for MSME sectors and huge development will take place in Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts. If entrepreneurs, by taking education in export management, start export-oriented businesses now, they will become established businesses in a decade and will taste profit. Also, there will be several business and employment opportunities in sectors like Logistics, Construction, supply chains, Cold storage, Tourism, Agroproducts, Processing, Packaging, and supporting industries. The positive factors like currency exchange rate benefits, tax refund facilities, government’s encouraging subsidies and aids are best suited to start export-oriented businesses. Management education institutes and various Chambers of Commerce should guide and encourage the youth for the same.”
In an interview conducted by Uttara Mone of Miti Group, Dr. Datar elaborated on his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges in it, his study of foreign markets, and the changes he adopted in his business based on his experiences. He guided the audience about overcoming challenges in doing business in foreign markets and learning the laws, taxes, and policies of other countries. The conference also saw several seminars on important subjects like opportunities in global markets, leadership and organizational skills, digital businesses and marketing, financial management, and sustainability in business.
