Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal on Saturday assured industry bodies of Manipur to further the growth story of the state.

In an interaction with representatives of different organisations of industry, trade and commerce in the state on Saturday night at Imphal, the union minister said, India’s growth story is not complete without Manipur’s growth story. He said, the Centre is aware of the big challenges in this remote area in the growth of industry, trade and commerce.

The union minister further said, lot of efforts has been made and special infrastructural development projects have been initiated for the promotion of industry, trade and commerce in the region including North-East Industrial Development Scheme and sanctioning of Integrated Development and Promotion of Industrial Projects. He however said, spirit of collaboration and competition is essential to further the growth of industry, trade and commerce in the region. He also urged the industrial bodies to undertake cooperative ventures and start-ups to promote industry and commercial trade as well as share technology and common platforms to optimise the outcome of the efforts.

He said, North-East states will be taken cared of to go on their own identity and not to rush either to Delhi or Kolkata for every issue. He further said, his ministry’s efforts to make everything online is a venture towards materialising the same as well as to go on full transparency. The union minister also assured that his ministry will make every possible effort so that Manipur gets full advantage of free trade agreement as the state is gateway to Myanmar and ASEAN countries.

Manipur Commerce and Industries Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, Secretary of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India Upendra Prasad Singh, state Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar and senior officials of the state commerce and industries department also attended the interaction session.

During the interaction, representatives of industrial unions of the state - Manipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Indo-Myanmar Border Traders’ Union, All Manipur Entrepreneurs' Association, Business Excellence Group, Manipur Power loom Development Association, Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Entrepreneurs Artisan Development Society and Organization for Development of Economic and Self Help drew attention of the Minister with brief presentations to bring about promotional avenues for the growth of industry, trade and commerce for the border state.

They raised issues pertaining to the need of introduction of transit duty system, reduction in visa fees, opening of trade related offices e.g., DGFT, FIEO, EXIM BANK, RBI FOREX cells at Imphal, development of multi model logistics park, transport subsidies to export and import traders, upgradation of Imphal Airport with facilities of cold storage, Customs office etc.

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BN/AIS

Trade facilitation for Manipur: institutional and infrastructure reforms to maximise free trade agreement access and cross border commerce. The central government commits to advance Manipur's trade and industry by maximising access to free trade agreement benefits, digitalising processes for transparency, and promoting special infrastructural and industrial schemes. Local industry bodies proposed specific trade facilitation and logistical reforms-transit duty system, reduced trader visa fees, establishment of trade facilitation and customs/forex offices in Imphal, multimodal logistics and cold chain upgrades at Imphal airport, and transport support for exporters-to leverage Manipur's gateway position and require collaborative central state implementation.