Question : RESTRUCTURING PACKAGE

(a) whether exports have gone up drastically due to growth in steel industry during 2002-03;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the action proposed to be taken by the Government to support the present positive movement;

(d) whether the Government have announced a restructuring package for Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) during the last two years;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the amount released by the Government in the package;

(f) the performance of the companies after implementation of the package; and

(g) the new strategies made to further improve the performance?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY)

(a)to(g): A statement is placed on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.347 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07-04-2003 TABLED BY SHRI KIRIT SOMAIYA AND SHRI Y V RAO REGARDING RESTRUCTURING PACKAGE

(a)&(b): The export of Steel from April 2002 to February 2003 has been estimated to be 38.50 lakh tonnes as compared to 27.35 lakh tonnes during the same period last year, thus registering an increase of 41%.

(c) In a deregulated and decontrolled environment, the market strategy, including exports is primarily decided by the individual producers. Indian Steel Producers have been taking several steps inter-alia up-gradation of technology, improvement in productivity, improvement in quality of products and adoption of an appropriate product-mix to suit the requirements of the international markets. The producers continue with exploration/consolidation of new and nontraditional markets.

(d) No restructuring package for SAIL has been announced during the last two years.

(e)to(g): Do not arise, in view of (d) above.