GUWAHATI, June 7 - A daylong workshop, �Northeast India Freight Connectivity and Logistics� was held in the city yesterday where PWD, representatives from other State Govt departments, stakeholders along with Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials participated.
The workshop was inaugurated by PWD Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma in the presence of dignitaries from the State government and World Bank.
Sanjeev Jindal, Regional Executive Director, AAI (NER) explained in detail the major initiatives AAI is taking regarding air connectivity and improving cargo facilities in the NE states.
Guwahati is considered to be the gateway to NE states and the LGBI Airport has all major facilities to export air cargo from Guwahati to other parts of the world. The facilities at the LGBI Airport cargo complex include a Custom EDI (electronic data interchange) service centre for online necessary document clearance and plant quarantine facility with major export agencies.
In his presentation at the workshop, Jindal informed that apart from Guwahati, domestic cargo services from other stations like Imphal, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Agartala are available. Domestic cargo facilities are also coming up at Silchar, Dimapur and other stations, he said.
At Jindal�s initiative a stakeholders� meeting is scheduled to be held at AAI Regional Headquarters, Guwahati where officials from World Bank, Asian Development Bank, airlines, cargo, transport department and stakeholders concerned will participate.
At the Imphal airport, a new cargo complex having international air cargo facility is under construction and will be operationalised soon.
After establishment of the Custom EDI, perishable consignments are now airlifted to various overseas destinations like Dubai, Sharjah, Hongkong, London, Bangkok, Birmingham and other places from Guwahati. Spicejet Airlines has also introduced SpiceXpress, a dedicated freighter services from LGBI Airport in January where exclusive cargo freighter operates from Guwahati to Hong Kong.
Fresh fruits and vegetables sourced at different locations of NE region are exported through air cargo services.
Government representatives from all the states of the North East participated and highlighted the connectivity and logistics initiatives undertaken by their states and departments.
The representatives from World Bank emphasised road connectivity in NE to the rural areas and promoting agriculture produce for enhancing farmers� income.
