Backed by the country’s initiative to bolster the information and communication technology sector, related exports jumped 8.9 percent in March compared to a year earlier, according to government figures on Thursday.

Outbound shipments of ICT products came to $14.98 billion in March, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Imports surged 10.3 percent on-year to $7.43 billion, but the sector’s trade surplus widened to $7.55 billion from $7.02 billion in March 2013.

“The country’s exports continued to rise amid growing shipments to most of its key trading partners, such as China and the U.S., along with strong overseas performances by cellular phones, semiconductors and digital televisions,” the ministry said in a press release.

In March, shipments to China rose almost 10 percent on-year to $7.39 billion with exports to the U.S. also jumping 15.1 percent to $1.47 billion.

Exports to member states of the European Union declined by 2.7 percent to $1.22 billion on account of a fall in exports of display panels, the ministry said.

(hkp@heraldcorp.com)