Guwahati: A parliamentary panel has said the northeast region of the country has not been able to develop as a trade centre despite having huge geographical potentialities and endowments.
This was stated in the report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, which was placed in the Parliament this month.
The committee was dismayed to note the minimal share of 0.156 per cent
of exports from the eight states of North Eastern Region (NER) which is
abysmally low when compared to the total exports from India.
“It is also worrisome that the marginal trade being conducted is lopsided, wherein a
major chunk of the export is from Assam and minuscule trade from the rest
of the region. It is perturbing to note that the region is not able to develop as a
trade centre despite having huge geographical potentialities and endowments,” the committee said in its report.
The committee, therefore, recommends that a strategy, focusing upon minimising the obstructions in the trade ecosystem, mainly infrastructural and logistical infirmities, should be formulated. This should also be supplemented by establishing strong linkages of the region with mainland traders as well as developing a robust land-based trade across borders which would boost local economies.
It appreciated the work done by the commerce department in stimulating production and trade of agriculture and marine products, tea, coffee, rubber and spices in the NER. .
The committee recommended that rubber and coffee sectors should be given more thrust by exploring their growth potential and prospects in the eight states of the northeast.
It also recommends that since the northeast provides a natural choice for organic farming due to less usage of chemicals in agri-practices, organic production of tea, spices, fruits and vegetables should be encouraged. “Embracing organic farming in NER by supporting producers and traders in supply chain and improving marketing linkages should also be promoted,” it said.
The commerce department informed the committee that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is taking several initiatives to promote export of agricultural products from the NER such as programmes for market linkage with a focus on GI registered and organic products; capacity building and skill development programmes for manufacturers, exporters and entrepreneurs as well as interaction with stakeholders to identify and address policy issues in exports.
APEDA, headquartered at New Delhi, provides support to the agri-export community by ensuring export promotion and development of 14 agricultural and processed food product groups listed in the First Schedule with rice being included in the Second Schedule of the APEDA Act.
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