New Delhi, November 17 2009: Manipur Commerce and Industries Minister Shri Yumkham Erabot today stated that the natural advantages of land, climate and skill available in Manipur coupled with the generous and positive backing from the Government of India could make rapid industrialization in the State.

Attending at the Conference of State Industries Ministers organized by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries held at the Parliament Annexe, Parliament Street here, Y.Erabot said, "Manipur which is an industrially backward state has a distinctive advantage in the Government of India's 'New Look East Policy' as it is the gateway to the South East Asia".

"Gifted with suitable agro-climatic conditions, Manipur is the home to various food and cash crops, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish which are organic in nature", he stated.

Highlighting prospects of various kinds if industry, he stated, "Food processing industries is the fast developing sector with infrastructure of a Food Park at Nilkuthi in Imphal East; forest resources which cover an area of 78 p.c.of State's geographical area having a potential for establishment of a Cane and Bamboo Park at Jiribam; mineral resources which attracts many big houses now a days for mineral exploration- establishment of cement, chromite and serpentinite plants i.e mineral based industrial park; having high skill and sufficient manpower in electronics and IT, there is potential for establishment of Electronics and IT Park at Imphal".

"Hide and Skin which are wasted in large quantities and found to be marketed in Kolkata and Kanpur can make a Leather Park at Churachandpur".

He said, "There is potentiality of a Textile Park in Manipur as Manipur provides the largest employment to 4.25 handloom workers with 2.81 lakh looms and consuming 12.20 lakh kg.

of yarn per month producing 96.07 lakh metre of handloom fabrics".

He further stated that in regards to handicrafts which had a unique identity among the various crafts in the country, there was a great potential for establishment of a Crafts Bazar in Manipur.

In the Tourism sector, there was potential for large scale development of tourism industry, eco-tourism, adventure tourism and different kinds of tourism parks, he added.

He further stated that the growth of industries in Manipur was very slow in comparison with the national average.

The employment generation in Manipur in the year 2008-09 was 48 thousand against 8900 units with an investment of Rs.44.00 crore.

Stating that most of the public sector undertakings of the Sate were being run with insufficient financial support, the Manipur Industries Minister drew the attention of the Union Minister of Commerce and Industries to provide full financial support from the Centre to these undertakings.

The investment in these sectors required overhauling the system, public private partnership, managerial capacity building, intensive product oriented manufacturing practices and infrastructural filled up arrangements, he added.

Highlighting some of the initiatives taken up by the State Government, Y.Erabot Singh said the new Draft Industrial Policy was proposed to be published on 26-01-2010 after taking the view of all concerned through series of seminars, workshops and consultation programmes.

A State Level Single Window Mechanism Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, Manipur would be constituted to simplify and rationalize licensing and clearance procedures.

To streamline the skill development activities such as handloom, handicrafts, food processing etc; a State Level Skill Development Plan was being drawn up with Department of Commerce and Industries , Manipur as nodal agency.

An Industrial Land Bank with support of 90 p.c.Central shares was proposed to be established in Manipur.

To check imitation or duplication by other agencies in the country, the State Government had taken steps to protect and preserve traditional artistic design in handloom and handicrafts sectors under Geographical Indications (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 for items namely Wangkhei Phee, Moirang Phee and Shanphee Lanphee, he added.

The Manipur Minister was accompanied by the Norbert Disinang, Director of Commerce and Industries and S..ISharma, General Manger (Geology and Mining, Commerce and Industries, Manipur.

In the afternoon, the Commerce and Industries Minister visited the Manipur Pavillion of the ongoing India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan here.

He encouraged all the participating units coming from Manipur in the prestigious International Fair for their all-our efforts in the development of commerce and industries in Manipur and bringing laurel of the small State of Manipur in the international arena.

Yumkham Erabot Singh, Minister of Commerce and Industries is leaving New Delhi for Imphal tomorrow.

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