Reiterating Prime Minister’s vision, Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Thursday stated that Northeast can be the new growth engine of the country’s economy.
Attending the Assam Food Processing Conclave – an awareness programme on Government initiatives held at a city hotel on Thursday, the Minister referred to Amazon’s Global Selling Programme which will provide opportunity to the local entrepreneurs to access the international markets with least cost and effort.
Minister Patowary highlighted the sectors like pineapple, banana, sugarcane, broccoli, ginger which have immense scope in the food processing industry.
“The pineapple produced in Assam is excellent in terms of juice and taste. The state also boasts of one of the largest banana markets at Daranggiri in Goalpara. Spicejet has already sent few consignments of citrus fruits to Dubai,” Patowary said.
The Minister mentioned that Assam is the highest producer of bamboo and tea in the country.
“Time has come to add value additions to tea in terms of white tea, yellow tea, gold tea, and green tea. The Government has also constituted a committee for GI tag of Assam Tea with a special logo to promote ‘Make in Assam’,” he added.
In an effort towards creating high standard industrial infrastructure, the Minister said that the Government has created three well-equipped industrial parks viz – Northeast Mega Food Park, Bamboo Technology Park and Plastic Park.
He highlighted that connectivity is the greatest leverage of the State. Soon the capitals of six countries will be connected to Guwahati.
Internet connectivity will soon be linked from Cox’s Bazar Port in Bangladesh to Tripura and to Assam.
Dr Dharmendra Singh Gangwar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India; Dr K K Dwivedi, Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Government of Assam and representatives from CII, NERAMAC, NABARD, ITC, Spice Board, Tocklai Tea Research etc also attended the programme.
