Union Minister of State for Commerce Jayram Ramesh held a review meeting of the industrial and infrastructure development activities of all the eight North-Eastern states in Guwahati recently. The meeting reviewed performance under assistance to states for developing fund, production of export quality products in the North-Eastern states, development of cold chain facilities for perishable commodities, developing connectivity to land custom stations and opening up of new trade routes with neighbouring countries. The minister requested the states to propose bankable projects to the Government of India which would be given priority. Varios issues of border trade, export-import, food and agro processing, and cold storage facilities were discussed and the participating states gave their respective presentations

The minister asked to give a thrust on export promotion with a view to generate employment. Aagriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, handloom and leather were sectors identified by the Commerce Ministry for industrial and export development. Mr. Ramesh informed that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has come up with three projects in the North-East.

The review meeting felt that infrastructure is required for export of agri products. A decision was taken to upgrade the export capacity of pineapple, ginger, rubber and oranges in the North-East region. The Minister of Commerce also has set up a number of agri export the zones in the North-East, like for pineapples at Tripura, for fresh and processed ginger at Assam, etc. The export council for handicraft is giving thrust to cane and bamboo furnitures and muga products from this region. It was disclosed. 100 entrepreneurs have been trained in the North-Easten region of which 70% are women. 5000 new jobs have been generated and export order (in the handicraft sector alone) to the tune of Rs 50 crore has been received in the last three years. In the next phase 100 more entrepreneurs will be trained. The Government of India has also decided to set up urban marketing centres for handicraft across the North-East region.

Mr. Ramesh also said that of the eight new border trade points set up, four are in the North-EAst (all with Bangladesh). This apart the Ministry of Commerce will take up with the MEA to open up an additional border trade centre with Myanmar. There was also a request from Arunachal to open three new border trade centres (one each with Bhutan, China and Myanmar).

This review meeting holds great relevance as the Ministry of Commerce has recently taken a a number of incentives for the region. Apart from a North-East cell, an export development fund (edf) has been set up. An empowered committee has also come into being to implement the initiatives taken in the North-East region. This committee also considers and approves proposals under edf. So far a good number of projects have already been sanctioned under the edf.  The review meetings will be held after every three months. The next one will be held in Agartala on August 19. 

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