Silk production to be enhanced to reduce import: Jairam

Imphal, Sep 30: Centre is planning to increase silk production in the country to reduce the cost of importing it from China, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said here today Addressing a press conference at Raj Bhawan here, Mr Ramesh said the Chinese silk was slightly superior and India imported about 8,000 tonnes of silk every year.

He also said India produces about 17,000 tonnes of silk every year and the Japan government has funded over Rs 490 crore to the Manipur government to take up production works.

''We have to ensure that the silk produced here will be of the same quality as of China,'' he said.

The minister along with state Commerce and Industries minister N Mangi visited the state's sericulture farms along with the centres where women were produced silk manually.

The Centre would also provide assistance to export the silk products, besides, the concerned ministry had given 90 per cent subsidy on air transport of horticulture products in the region to Kolkata and 50 per cent upto New Delhi and Mumbai, he said.

Mr Ramesh said he had discussed about the situation in the state governor S S Sidhu and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.

Besides, he had toured the region to help the region's medical students in developing the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here.

Ramesh said he along with the Chief Minister had discussed the matter with the Union Health minister Ramadoss last night over phone to which Mr Ramadoss had assured to increase the intake capacity of the college from 100 to 150 and promised a grant of Rs 80 to Rs 100 crore.

UNI