Conference / buyer-seller meet kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2019: A two day "Export Promotion Conference cum International Buyer Seller Meet on North East Region Products Export" kicked off today at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound here.

Commerce Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India Dr Anup Wadhawan formally inaugurated the Export Promotion Conference cum International Buyer Seller Meet on North East Region Products Export.

Speaking as the chief guest of the inaugural function, Dr Anup Wadhawan called for collective effort of the Government of India, State Governments and stakeholders in the North East region to create an environment which will be conducive for making potential exporters recognize the rich opportunities for export in the North East region.

He asserted that the North East region has huge possibilities for promoting exports as the region is extremely diverse and rich in terms of produces and resources and the region is located in a very strategic position close to the South East Asian countries.

Conference / buyer-seller meet kicks off

The South East Asian countries are very proximate to North East region where huge possibilities for trade and economic ties of various kinds can be afforded, he continued.

Noting that exports are the key for economic development in general, he said exports require certain standards.

"Exports require raising the entire level of production and the demanding nature of export will raise the sophistication of the economy.

So we should see exports as a huge opportunity to upgrade ourselves to exploit economic opportunities which are much wider than the economic opportunities which are available within the State or within the country".

Pointing out that North East region has many exotic products of agriculture and horticulture that can be tapped and exported, Anup Wadhawan opined that creating appropriate environment, including physical infrastructural environment, regulatory environment and awareness building with the potential exporters are the need of the hour to make potential exporters come forward, recognize and exploit the huge potential that exists in the region.

Conveying that there are several windows through which the GoI and the State Government could work together with the exporters of the region to promote economic development, the Commerce Secretary said that the first entry point is the export strategy for the State He opined that the issues related to regulatory environment, policy environment and physical infrastructural environment should be captured in India's export strategies and addressed in a systematic manner over two or three years.

Whether it is the requirement of roads, storage facilities, packaging facilities, sorting facilities or cold chain, the State Government must be able to identify and fill the various gaps in setting up the environment which is conducive for export.

For this, the State Government need to closely working with the stakeholders and exporters to identify and systematically to achieve the objective, he added.

Claiming that the other entry point is the Agriculture Export Policy, he expressed hope that the State Government would work closely with the stakeholders and develop a State Action Plan where the policy, regulatory and infrastructural issues for agriculture, in particular will be a part of the State Action Plan.

Suggesting that the State Government can reap the benefits of Central Government's Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) when it takes up plans for export strategy in the State, Anup Wadhawan stressed on the importance of developing new border Haats for trade and commerce in border areas.

He also expressed hope that the two days buyer seller event will bring meaningful and fruitful context by fulfilling the aspirations and hope of the participants and create a strong network beyond this event subsequently.

Many other Central Government and State Government officials, including Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman Paban Kumar Borthakur, North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) Managing Director Pankaj Prasad and Principal Secretary (Horticulture and Soil Conservation) JC Ramthanga also attended the function.

Notably, the two day long "Export Promotion Conference cum International Buyer Seller Meet on North East Region Products Export" is being organized by APEDA under Ministry of Commerce and Industries as part of its endeavour to promote export of agricultural products from North East India.

The conference cum buyer seller meet aims at facilitating market linkages of the exporters with international buyers.

Altogether 21 international buyers from South East Asia, Gulf countries and neighbouring countries and 46 exporters are participating at the conference cum buyer seller meet which will conclude tomorrow.