GUWAHATI, Aug 30 - The North East can be the new growth engine of the country�s economy, State Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said here today.
Attending the Assam Food Processing Conclave � an awareness programme on government initiatives held at a city hotel � the Minister referred to Amazon�s Global Selling Programme that will provide an opportunity to local entrepreneurs to access international markets with least cost and effort.
Patowary said food items like pineapple, banana, sugarcane, broccoli and ginger have immense scope in the food processing industry. �The pineapple produced in Assam is excellent in terms of juice and taste. The State also can also boast of one of the largest banana markets at Daranggiri Goalpara. SpiceJet has already sent a few consignment of citrus fruits to Dubai,� Patowary said.
The Minister said Assam is the biggest producer of bamboo and tea in the country. �Time has come to add value addition 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 said.
In an effort towards creating high-standard industrial infrastructure, Patowary said the government has created three well-equipped industrial parks � the North East Mega Food Park, Bamboo Technology Park and Plastic Park.
He highlighted that connectivity was the greatest leverage of the State. Soon, the capitals of six countries will be connected to Guwahati. Internet connectivity will also be linked from Cox�s Bazar Port in Bangladesh to Tripura and Assam.
Dr Dharmendra Singh Gangwar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Dr KK Dwivedi, Commissioner, Industries and Commerce department, and representatives from CII, NERAMAC, NABARD, ITC, Spice Board, and Tocklai Tea Research also attended the programme.
