'Govt to revive Board of Trade to boost export'

Kolkata, Dec 18: In a bid to boost exports from the state, West Bengal Government will revive the defunct Board of Trade.

Speaking to the mediapersons here today, State Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said, ''We will take steps to revive the Board of Trade which would facilitate the exporters.'' This Board have become defunct for quite sometime. ''We want to revive this and work as facilitator for the exporters. Several SEZs will also be set up in various parts of the state to boost export.'' Already 14 SEZs have been planned in the state. One SEZ would be in Haldia and Siliguri, he said.

Meanwhile, speaking at the award presentation ceremony organised by EEPC, EEPC (Eastern Region) Chairman R P Sehgal said the EEPC will target export of US $ 24 billion by the year end.

''The engineering export is poised to grow at the rate of 18 to 20 per cent and would specially focus on valuee added engineering goods,'' he said.

''From eastern India exports was US $3.23 billion last year. This year, we are targetting a growth of 17 per cent to US $ 3.75 billion,'' he said.

UNI