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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Sep. 21 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday inaugurated a two-day Vanijya Utsav exporter conclave for promotion of export-oriented businesses in Manipur.
The event is being organised by the department of Textiles, Commerce and Industry, government of Manipur in association with Directorate General of Foreign Trade, department of Commerce, government of India and Federation of Indian Export Organisation as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' for promotion of exports from India and its potential.
The chief minister as the chief guest reminded the gathering of the power and potential of the people to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The two-day event aims to benefit the entrepreneurs and business establishments in the state and in promoting local products for exports.
Biren Singh said that the state being the land gateway to Asean nations has tremendous potential for development and growth. Accordingly, development of connectivity infrastructure in the state has been a priority of this government. Rail connectivity of Imphal with Jiribam and other projects like the Trilateral Highway from Thailand to Moreh and Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project have immense potential to boost exports once they are completed.
'In the past 4 and half years, other related infrastructure projects were inaugurated and taken up including Integrated Check Post at Moreh and the Land Customs Station, Moreh located within the ICP are functional. Repairing and renovation of the Trade Centre at Moreh was taken up to provide state of art facilities for conducting G2B and B2B conferences to promote exports. Manipur Trade and Expo Centre at Lamboikhongnangkhong was established with Central government's assistance and Mega Food Park with associated cold storages and warehouses in eight districts, along with the proposed CSIR-CFTRI Resource Centre at Imphal, to give an impetus to the food processing sector in the state', he stated.
'Out of 2,77,064 hectares identified as potential areas for horticulture crops, only about 62,200 hectares is covered at present, leaving ample opportunity for expansion. The government will continue to promote local agricultural, horticultural and forest produce through various schemes. Chakhao (aromatic black rice) recently got a geographical indication tag and is currently being exported to other states and foreign nations as well. Tribal beneficiaries are being supported under Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana', he informed.
He maintained that organic farming is being promoted under "Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region". Products are identified for all districts under One District One Product Scheme to reap the benefit of scale. Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme will also give a major boost to the food-processing sector. Handlooms, Handicrafts, art made of cane, bamboo, and Manipur pottery with unique and exquisite designs peculiar to their communities are also potential areas of export.
He added that to facilitate robust policy and strategic planning at the state-level for promoting exports, the state government has constituted the State Level Export Promotion Committee and District Export promotion Committees for preparation of the District Export Action Plans for each of the 16 districts and steps are also being taken to survey export potential and to frame Manipur Export Policy under market access initiative of the ministry of Commerce, government of India.
The chief minister also highlighted certain areas, which need to be considered to further consolidate the efforts made towards promoting exports of local products and a special provision on the lines of a Indo-Myanmar Border Free Trade through Moreh by setting up a branch office of Passport Seva Kendra to boost the prospects of trade and exports in the state as transition to normal trade resulted in levying of 40% duties, adversely impacting trade through Moreh. Development works of Multi Modal Logistics Park in the state of Manipur has potential for the region and country in light of planned Trans Asian Railway Network, Trilateral Highway and Inland Waterways.