2 Pvt Companies offer to set up Tuna Export Ind

Port Blair, July 7: Two private companies have come forward for setting up Tuna Export Industries in the islands, the Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said here today.

Speaking to media persons herem, the Minister said that while the first company named as East India Tuna Fishery Ltd, which has under its belt eight Tuna Liners, would submit its application to the Administration today, the other one named Moon, a Japanese Company, has sought two weeks' time to forward its papers.

The minister said he had supported the suggestion of the Chief Secretary that the private players, who come here for Tuna industry, should engage at least 25 per cent fishermen from these islands.

The Central Government had already allotted funds to the Administration for creating infrastructure like fish landing centres, cold storages, among others in different parts of the islands, which, he said, will contribute immensely towards tuna fishing.

He said that tuna being an important economic resource of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, must be utitlised to provide employment to local people.

Both of these companies were also ready to commit resources for catching and processing and have promised employment for the locals, he said.

The minister said that Tuna industry in these islands cannot develop without major investment in infrastructure.

''We have to develop Port Blair as an International airport with direct connectivity with location like Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Dubai and Frankfurt,'' he added.

UNI