GUWAHATI : As part of efforts to boost up industrial environment in Assam ahead of the Global Investors Summit, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday requested Union Industry & Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu to take urgent steps for modernising and upgrading the export infrastructure at Assam-Bangladesh International Borders and to constitute a special task force for preparation of time-bound action plan in this regard.
Responding to Chief Minister’s requests, the Union Minister assured to take urgent appropriate steps for revamping the infrastructure of the three border trade points. Prabhu also announced that the Industry and Commerce Ministry would be a co-sponsor of the Global Investors Summit and will bear 50% of the cost of the Summit. He further assured to write to all CEOs of global industrial houses to participate in the Investors Summit.
Sonowal on Tuesday met the Union Minister at his office in Udyog Bhavan in New Delhi and informed him the importance of strengthening border trade points with Bangladesh. “Currently, we have three border trade points, namely Golakganj and Mankachar in Dhubri district and Sutarkandi in Karimgaj District. In the backdrop of the special emphasis of Hon’ble Prime Minister on Act East Policy, it is critical to modernise and upgrade these border trade points”, Sonowal said.
Sonowal also requested Prabhu to form a Special Task Force comprising the Act East Policy Affairs Department of Assam and representatives of the Ministry of Finance, MEA and MHA to chalk out a comprehensive and time-bound action plan in order to upgrade the physical facilities, the procedures related to Land Custom Stations and appropriate commodity based incentives to stimulate the exports from Assam to Bangladesh.
Apprising the Union Minister about the preparations for the Global Investors Summit to be held in Guwahati in February, 2018, the Chief Minister also sought his cooperation for turning the event into a launch pad for industrial growth of the state.
Sonowal also brought the issue of announcement of North East Industrial Investment Policy ahead of the forthcoming Global Investors Summit “Early announcement of NEIIP is very critical for industrial investment in Assam and the north-east. This policy will leverage industrial growth in the entire region” Sonowal said
They also discussed the revised Scheme of budgetary support under Goods and Service Tax Regime to the units located in the states of north eastern region. Sonowal informed the Union Minister about serious concern expressed by the industry stakeholders in NER about the revised schemes and requested him to re-examine the matter by holding discussions with the States and the industry stakeholders urgently to simplify the procedure of reimbursement.
Further highlighting the need to restructure Tocklai Tea Research Institute into a Global Innovative and Futuristic Centre for diversified use of Tea, Sonowal urged Prabhu to initiate appropriate steps to restructure and support the Institute to play the role of a global leader in the global tea research in areas “beyond-beverage,” such as medicines/drugs cosmetics, food preservation, etc.
“Tocklai Tea Research Institute is the oldest tea research station in the world.. The Institute needs to reorient itself to aim its research at the futuristic and diverse use of tea beyond its conventional use as beverage with next generation outlook”, Sonowal pointed out with a request to the Union Minister to give a new life to the tea industry and thereby to the economy of Assam as well.