GUWAHATI, May 15 � Underscoring the need for a long-term structured strategy for the State�s tea industry and enable it to keep pace with the global benchmark concerning quality and yield, Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) has stressed the role of Tea Board as �of paramount importance� in that regard.
In a statement, FINER chairman RS Joshi pointed out that the tea industry in the North-east region was the backbone of economic development of Assam as well as the entire region, and said that the move of the Union Commerce Ministry to appoint a new Chairman of Tea Board from outside the Assam Cadre was a discouraging factor to the tea industry in Assam.
�As more than 50 per cent of Indian tea production comes from the Assam and Assam is not short of competent officers from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, a competent bureaucrat with a proven track record from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre could solidly fill the void to be created by the outgoing Chairman. The candidates put forward by the Assam Government were totally ignored, not giving any weightage to the legitimate claims of the north-eastern region,� it said.
FINER also urged the Assam Government to take up the matter with appropriate authorities before any further damage was done.
Welcoming the promotion of tea tourism in a big way in the State, FINER said that the opening of a retail sales counter of �Authentic Assam Tea� and a lounge for consumption of �Brewed Tea�� The Assam Chai Bar � was a very encouraging step.
�The promotion of Assam Tea will gain prominence not only amongst the domestic consumers but will open the doors to international visitors as well, to this very authentic brew. Tour organizers will add one more destination � the Assam Chai Bar � in the tour schedules of visiting foreign tourists,� it said.
Congratulating Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for the resounding victory in the 2011 Assam State elections, FINER said that the good governance, industrial development, sustainable growth and foreign direct investments in Assam had instilled in the business community some much-needed confidence to move forward towards realizing a dream of economic prosperity for the people and making Assam a model State.
