Piyush: India's growth story incomplete without Manipur's
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 21 2021: Union minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal on Saturday assured industry bodies of Manipur of assistance to further the growth story of the state.

In an interaction with representatives of different organisations of industry, trade and commerce in the state here on Saturday night, the union minister said that India's growth story is not complete without Manipur's growth story, and added that the Centre is aware of the big challenges in this remote area in the growth of industry, trade and commerce.

Piyush Goyal further said that a lot of effort has been made and special infrastruc-tural development projects have been initiated for the promotion of industry, trade and commerce in the region including North-East Industrial Development Scheme and sanctioning of Integrated Development and Promotion of Industrial Projects.

He, however, said that spirit of collaboration and competition is essential to further the growth of industry, trade and commerce in the region.

Goyal also urged the industrial bodies to undertake cooperative ventures and start-ups to promote industry and commercial trade as well as share technology and common platforms to optimise the outcome of the efforts.

The union minister affirmed that the North-East states will be taken care of to go on their own identity and not to rush either to Delhi or Kolkata for every issue, adding that his ministry's efforts to make everything online is a venture towards materialising the same as well as to go on full transparency.

He also assured that his ministry will make every possible effort so that Manipur gets full advantage of free trade agreement as the state is gateway to Myanmar and ASEAN countries.

Manipur Commerce and Industries minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, secretary of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India Upendra Prasad Singh, state chief secretary D Rajesh Kumar and senior officials of the state commerce and industries department also attended the interaction session.

During the interaction, representatives of industrial unions of the state Manipur Chamber of Commerce arid Industry, Indo-Myan-mar Border Traders' Union, All Manipur Entrepreneurs' Association, Business Excellence Group, Manipur Power loom Development Association, Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Entrepreneurs Artisan Development Society and Organization for Development of Economic and Self Help - drew the attention of the minister with brief presentations for bringing about promotional avenues for the growth of industry, trade and commerce for the border state.

They raised issues pertaining to the need of introduction of transit duty system, reduction in visa fees, opening of trade related offices like DGFT, FIEO, EXIM BANK, RBI FOREX cells at Imphal, development of multi model logistics park, transport subsidies to export and import traders, upgrade of Imphal Airport with facilities of cold storage, Customs office etc.

India and the 10-nation Asean bloc implemented an FTA in January 2010.Under a free-trade agreement, two trading partners reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them.

Besides, they liberalise norms to enhance trade in services and boost investments.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members are Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos.

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