Process on to reform industrial & investment policies: Nemcha
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, May 25 2022:
Commerce and Industry minister Nemcha Kipgen attended a workshop on Food Processing Opportunities in Manipur & Buyer Seller Meet held at City Convention Centre, here on Wednesday.
The workshop was organised by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in partnership with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to focus on the central and state government schemes and food processing opportunities.
The programme also focused on linking entrepreneurs with partners for forward-linkages and to promote the state's economic vibrancy in terms of trade and commerce, buyer-seller interactions, logistics, thus enabling sustainable and inclusive development.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, minister Nemcha Kipgen stated that the food processing industry significantly helps improve the socio-economy status of the people.
She pointed out that India's growing food processing industry is already one of the largest in the world, with output expected to touch Rs 50,000 crore by 2025.Manipur needs this sunrise sector to take off in a big way, to make agriculture more profitable and to increase the per capita income of the state overall as more than 70 percent of state's population is still engaged in the agricultural sector, Nemcha said.
The minister stressed on the need for developing the food processing industry in the state as Manipur has favourable agro-climatic conditions for horticultural crops.
While highlighting the advantage of the inherent strength, Nemcha urged the entrepreneurs and business operators to familiarise themselves and avail the opportunities of the various government schemes under the Department of Commerce and Industry, Manipur.
She also suggested them to avail the services of Nilakuthi Food Park and other upcoming Food Parks and make use of the food labs for quality control and utilise the factory spaces.
Indigenous food products like black rice 'laddoo', black rice fruit and nut cookies, Kabok (puffed rice) mixture, Manipuri Cassava 'burfi', bamboo shoot murabba and fig 'laddoo' are being developed and manufactured under the incubation lab project of Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited (MFICL), the minister informed.
Nemcha Kipgen further said that the government always plays the part of enablers and facilitators in the best possible way, adding that government is in the process of reforming the industrial and investment policies to improve the ease of doing business in Manipur.
The workshop was also attended by ASSOCHAM Agriculture Council chairman Ranjan D Sen, Trade, Commerce & Industry director Y Robita, dean of College of Food Technology, Central Agricultural University, Imphal Dr N Joykumar Singh, and members from self-help groups and other stakeholders.