Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi said that both the Central and the State Governments are making synergistic efforts to promote start-up companies and develop entrepreneurship in the North-east.
“I strongly believe that the north-eastern region could emerge as a major centre for food processing and can command a high place both in domestic and international markets,” Prof Mukhi said while inaugurating the three-day North East Farm and Food Tech 2018 organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry at Maniram Dewan Trade Center in Guwahati.
Prof Mukhi also said that the availability of agricultural and horticultural resources and their organic cultivation in the region have created a huge export potential both in fresh and processed form.
Moreover, an organized system of certification, production and marketing with better post-harvest technology, supply chain management, branding, the region can become a nerve centre of an organic hub in accordance with the plan and policies of the present Government at the Centre as well in the State.
Prof Mukhi also outlined some of the major drawbacks for the food processing industries of the North-east which lies in lack of supply chain, storage facilities, packaging, limited use of latest technologies, market linkage etc and advocated for taking remedial steps to remove these shortcomings.
The Governor also congratulated the Confederation of Indian Industry for organizing the North East Farm and Food Tech 2018 at Guwahati.
He stated that considering the strategic location of the north-eastern region and its richness in natural resources, there cannot be even an iota of doubt that this region has the potential of becoming a leading destination for investments in food processing.
He urged the industry bodies to work as a catalyst with the State Governments and Central Government for developing the food processing sector in the North-east as this sector has a huge potential to drive the economy of the region.