Staff Reporter | 02 Feb, 2009
The government will announce sector-specific stimulus packages within four to six weeks in addition to the two previous packages to protect jobs, Ashwani Kumar, minister of state for industries, said here Saturday.

"The proposed stimulus packages will focus on export-oriented sectors as well as industries that employ a large number of people - like automobile, textiles, leather and construction," Ashwani Kumar told reporters after inaugurating the 24th India International Leather Fair.

According to him, the government's focus is to protect the jobs and minimise the job losses and not to offer subsidies to the industries.

At the leather fair, 392 companies including 122 from overseas are showcasing their wares, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) chief Sheela Bhida said.

The annual event organised by ITPO provides the meeting platform for the global players in the leather trade to showcase their products - finished leather, shoes, garments, fashion accessories, travel ware, belts, gloves, chemicals machinery and others.

The economic slowdown in Europe and the US has resulted in a marginal reduction in the number of participants this year as compared to last year.