The Centre would soon identify for further development seven industrial clusters with a high export potential, L Mansingh, director general of foreign trade, said.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Post-Exim Exporters' Meet, Mansingh admitted that the industrial clusters of Thirupur, Panipat and Ludhiana, which had been identified in the Exim Policy 2002-07, had not done as well as expected because of infrastructural constraints.

"Of the 350 clusters in the country, 34 are exporting over Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) worth of goods every year," Mansingh said.

Mansingh expressed happiness over the fact that despite the Iraq war and a global recession India's exports stood at over $50 billion in the previous fiscal.

"India's exports clocked an 18 per cent growth in dollar terms to touch $51.7 billion. Of this, nearly $13 billion came from textile exports. We are now optimistic of achieving the desired target of 1 per cent share in global trade by 2007," he added.

Though Indian exports would have to grow at a steady 12 per cent in dollar terms over the next few years in order to achieve the desired target Mansingh was confident of reaching it.

"We are sticking to our original target, but constantly trying to improve exports," he said.