New Delhi: India's exports have registered a growth of over 19 per cent in Dollar terms in fiscal 2002- 2003, S B Mukherjee, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, relayed this information to the Rajya Sabha on July 28.

The total exports were placed at Rs 252, 790 crore, which in Dollar terms was estimated at $ 52.23 billion or a 19.2 per cent growth rate (Dollar terms) and 20.9 per cent (Rupee terms) over 2002.

The House was also informed about the government's plans to constitute a task force to protect India IT sector and IT-enabled services (ITES).

Stating that industry representatives would be involved in this effort, the minister said moves by some states in America to pass bills banning the outsourcing of IT-related and other services to India had not been passed so far. India's concerns on this issue had been conveyed and registered, he added.

India and China were also working closely together on various issues covered under the Doha Work Programme, especially issues of concern to developing countries, Mukherjee said.

These include Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (RIGHTS) and public health, implementation- related concerns with regard to the existing World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements, special and differential treatment for developing countries, Singapore issues and developmental aspects in the on- going market access negotiations for agricultural and non-agricultural products and services, the minister added.

ANI