India exported 23 lakh PPE to 5 nations in July: Govt

NEW DELHI: India exported 23 lakh personal protection equipment (PPE) to 5 countries including the US, the UK and the UAE in July, after the government relaxed export norms and this has substantially helped the country to position itself in the global market of these kits, the Union Health Ministry said.

The other two countries are Senegal and Slovania, it said.

According to the ministry, the 'Make in India' spirit "embedded in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan has resulted in providing resilience and self-sufficiency" to the country for various medical equipment including PPE.

While the Centre is supplying PPE kits, N95 masks, ventilators etc, to the state governments and UT administrations, states are procuring these items directly. "Between March and August 2020, they have procured 1.40 crore indigenous PPE from their own budgetary resources. During the same period, the Centre has distributed 1.28 crore PPE to states, UTs and central institutions, free of cost," it said.

"In view of the strengthened domestic production capacity and having met the domestic requirements for PPE, the revised notification of the Director General of

Foreign Trade (DGFT) in July permitted export of these kits. As a result of this relaxation, in the month of July itself, India exported 23 lakh PPE to five countries. These include the USA, the UK, the UAE, Senegal and Slovania. This has substantially aided India to position itself in the global export market of PPE," the ministry’s statement said.