September 3, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Saani24,1423

NEW DELHI, Sept 2: Indian exports rose by 17.74 per cent in July compared to the same month last year, narrowing the country’s trade deficit by 48 per cent, officials said on Monday.

A commerce ministry statement said exports in July totalled $4.07 billion up from $3.43 billion the previous year, while imports fell 5.65 per cent to $4.64 billion.

Exports in April-July, the first four months of the current fiscal year, grew 15.17 per cent to $15.86 billion compared with $13.77 billion in the same period last year.

The commerce ministry figures showed India’s import bill rose a marginal 0.22 per cent between April and July to $17.75 billion from $17.71 billion dollars in the same period last year.

Oil imports between April and July rose by 1.12 per cent to $5.38 billion while non-oil imports were 0.17 per cent higher at $12.36 billion.—AFP