Centre to aid Chhattisgarh to set up gems and medicinal parks

Raipur, Apr 1 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh today said the Centre would extend assistance for setting up gems, jewellery and medicinal parks in Chhattisgarh.

Talking to reporters here, he said, ''Entrepreneurs from Surat and Mumbai, who are in the gems and jewellery business, are keen to invest in this state, particularly in view of low labour costs.'' Stating that Chhattisgarh possessed tremendous potential to export herbal medicine, the minister said the Centre would extend assistance for establishing a medicinal park between Raipur and Dhamtari.

Pointing out that 70 per cent of total tamarind exported was produced in Chhattisgarh's tribal Bastar region, Mr Ramesh said middlemen were preventing percolation of benefits to local tribals.

The Centre would help set up an export forum to eliminate middlemen.

UNI AS-JJ AC RA KP1932