Mizoram's green products attract Singaporeans

Aizawl, Jul 23 (UNI) Singapore has huge market for Mizoram's agricultural products, according to a market survey.

The survey conducted by the Mizoram Public Accounts Committee members in some South East Asian countries said once India's ''Look Policy'' was implemented Mizoram could become the gateway of India to the South East Asian nations.

The markets were surveyed between July 14-21 by the MPAC to determine how Mizoram would fare if India's Look East Policy was implemented in the northeast.

The MPAC members on their return today told reporters they have not seen any scope for marketing in Hongkong, but Singapore has a huge market for Mizoram's agricultural products.

''We visited two big markets in Singapore which are dominated by non-organic vegetables. Since Mizoram has started organic farming, our agricultural products could be 30 per cent costlier than local products in Singapore,'' PAC chairman and MLA Lalduhoma said. But still Indian goods have good demand if hygienic was maintained, they said.

Whereas passion fruit imported from Korea was sold at Singapore Dollar 4.50 (Rs 135) per kg the kind of variety produced in Mizoram was sold at S $ 12 (Rs 350), Lalduhoma said.

The PAC members stressed on the need for Mizos, youths in particular, to be prepared to gain as much as possible from the Look East Policy, otherwise, ''the policy could bring about negative impacts.'' The members were also in the opinion that Mizoram has huge potential for exporting Anthurium flowers to Singapore, as the northeast state produces the exotic variety in huge quantity.

The PAC members also included MLAs Sailothanga Sailo, Lalrinliana Sailo, D Thangliana, K Lalrinliana and H Vanlalthaliana.

The members wished to visit some more countries to explore market but the Centre restrcited their movement.

UNI ZS PC SY AS1640