YUPIA, 20 Jun: The Papum Pare District Export Promotion Committee held its first review meeting at the DC office here on Friday to deliberate on strategies for promoting exports and strengthening market linkages for local products.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering called for formation of a sub-committee, comprising officers from the Agriculture and Allied Departments, to finalise the district action plan under the ‘Districts as Export Hubs’ initiative.
He directed that the district action Plan be prepared before the next meeting and presented during the subsequent review. The DC also instructed the nodal officer for the District Export Hub initiative, Amin Nabam, to begin collecting relevant data for formulation of the action plan.
The DC stated that, although turmeric has been identified as the product under the ‘One District, One Product’ initiative for Papum Pare, other products being produced in substantial quantities in the district could also be identified and incorporated in the district action plan.
Papum Pare is among the 120 districts selected from across the country under the ‘Districts as Export Hubs’ initiative, a flagship programme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aimed at promoting local products and enhancing export potential at the district level.
During the meeting, Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s regional authority Himanshu Dhar Pandeydelivered a presentation on export promotion and various policy initiatives.
Pandey elaborated policies relating to import and export of goods, remission of duties and taxes on exported products, rebate of state and central taxes and levies, the Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme, the Advance Authorisation scheme, and other export promotion measures.
He spoke also on the Export Promotion Mission,focusing on transportation, branding and market accessibility. Highlighting schemes such as Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha, he explained their rolesin facilitating trade access and expanding holistic market opportunities for local entrepreneurs and producers.
NABARD AGM A Bibek Shah stressed the importance of farmer-producer organisations and farmer-producer groups “through Large Sized Adivasi Multipurpose Societies (LAMPS), along with credit linkages to support agricultural production activities.”
He stated that, before establishing factories or venturing into exports, there must be a consistent supply of raw materials through sustained agricultural activities. He further invited farmers and growers to avail of various schemes and assistance provided by the NABARD.
Amitraj from ECGC Limited spoke on export credit insurance policies and highlighted the importance of insurance coverage in safeguarding exporters against losses incurred during export business transactions.
Ashraf from APEDA, Guwahati branch, also spoke on export development infrastructure, and explained the support extended by the APEDA for strengthening import-export infrastructure and export-oriented activities.
Farmers and entrepreneurs attending the meeting interacted with the officials and had their doubts on export-import terminologies, procedures and policiesclarified.
A representative from the Trade and Commerce Department informed that an export promotion cell would be functionalised in the department in Itanagar by December, and urged the stakeholders to utilise the facilities and services to be offered through the cell.
Representatives from SIDBI, NABARD, NCGTC, CGTMSE, Trade and Commerce Department, District Industries Centre and other stakeholder departments attended the meeting. (DIPRO)
