Agartala: In a bid to recognise the bamboo and cane craft of Tripura, the Ministry of Commerce has announced Agartala as the city of export excellence along with two other Indian cities, Director General of Foreign Trade Anup Kumar Pujari on Sunday said.
Addressing an interactive meet on import/export opportunities through Land Custom Stations (LCS) in Tripura here Pujari said geographical locations and import-export performance of the state’s bamboo and cane produces over past few years the ministry had recognised the status.
”Besides Agartala, Bhubaneswar is recognised as export excellence city for marine products while Firozabad was given the excellence tag for brass works in October last.
As a result, the ministry would provide assistance to the concern states for development of export infrastructure,” Pujari stated.
He, however, pointed out that apart from cane and bamboo product promotion, the Centre had devoted full concentration in Northeastern states especially to Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam and Sikkim for improvement of export business with neighbouring countries.
While welcoming the Centre’s decision, state Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Choudhury said the government had been trying to convince the ministry for extending help for bamboo sector of the region and with the announcement, the state would get support under Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) Scheme.
He underlined that the initiative would boost the state in the export effort by creating appropriate infrastructure for the development and growth of exports and therefore, intends to establish a mechanism for involvement of the State. (UNI)