Ramesh calls for setting up separate NEEPC

Shillong, Oct 19 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh today stressed on setting up a separate North East Export Promotion Council to boost trade but lamented poor infrastructure in the region.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Ramesh said the region possess huge investment potential in sectors like horticulture and food processing and added that the Centre was trying to identify export potential of items like rubber, spice.

The Rubber Board and Spices Board had also taken several initiatives to woo new investments in the NE.

Urging the NE state governments to identify specific organic items like ginger, roses, turmeric, anthurium, bamboo, Mr Ramesh said the region could become the largest producer and exporter of roses and other organic food items if they have surplus production.

However, Mr Ramesh expressed displeasure about the current state of infrastructure in the region. This problem needs to be tackled in a "bolder way" to boost economic and trade related activities, Mr Ramesh said here. However, he reviewed the status of infrastructure facilities in the region with North East Industries and Trade Ministers here last evening.

On the North East Industrial Policy (NEIP), the Minister favoured its extension beyond March, 2007 and which should have a package different from that of the North Indian states. At present, the NEIP was largely benefiting AsOm and Meghalaya, availing about 92 per cent subsidy, mainly for cement industries.

He said the region was in a disadvantaged position for acquiring externally-aided projects for which the Prime Minister had urged the Finance Ministry to review all existing provisions.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had identified three crops of NE, such as, pineapple, bamboo and rubber for having maximum potential for export with the Asian countries, Mr Ramesh told reporters here.

The Union Minister was here on a two-day visit to Meghalaya.

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