Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal said in an attempt to bring about wholesome development of the North-eastern states Central Government is working by putting special emphasis on investment, communication, infrastructure, information technology, etc. in the North-eastern States.
Participating in the Destination Tripura-Investment Summit 2021 in virtual mode Goyal touched upon various sectors where Tripura had made success and where the potential and possibilities of far more development would be possible.
Among the North-eastern states, Tripura is fast advancing in communication, health, industry, infrastructural development, etc. fields. He said, there have been significant developments including rubber, health, agriculture, tourism, industry, communication, information technology since the present state government took over under the leadership of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. The state government has also significantly increased the state’s budget allocation for the development of these sectors. The Government of Tripura has gifted a transparent administration to the people of the state by giving priority to three values-Niyam, Niti and Niyat. The state government is working with transparency in providing health, housing, education, electricity services to the people. “The proposed Agartala- Akhauara rail link project will open new avenues for export trade in Tripura,” he said, adding that the state is soon going to have its first Special Economic Zone and it would benefit the entire North East”, he said.
The results of the recent general elections have reflected the fact that the Tripura government is moving in the right direction of development in various fields. With the coming of the municipality results, Tripura has now become a triple engine government instead of a double engine government. Union Minister hoped that as a result the pace of development of the state would further increase.
It has been observed that during the long rule of the previous central government, the North-eastern states remained neglected in terms of development.
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry also said, the money allocated for the development of the North-eastern states used to get wasted. But the present central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given priority to the overall development of the North-eastern states.
Union Minister further said, the previous state government had neglected Tripura in various fields for 30-35 years. But the present state government has been working for the last 4 years to make Tripura an ideal state through overall development. Tripura is currently ranked second in the country in road, air and rail connectivity. There are plans to cultivate rubber in an area of 30,000 hectares in Tripura in the next five years which will be very helpful in setting up a rubber-based industry in Tripura.
He said that four major tyre companies represented by Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) have together keen to invest Rs 1,000 crore for rubber plantation in 200,000 hectare land in the seven states of the region over a period of five years.
The Rubber Board and the ATMA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March this year and the participating tyre companies together have already transferred Rs 12 crore to the Rubber Board for procuring planting materials for commencing plantation, the Union Minister said.
The state currently cultivates natural rubber in 87,500 hectares of land and producing 90,000 tonnes of rubber annually.
Goyal said Tripura is home to the largest bamboo flooring unit and the state has the potential to emerge as the country’s hub of Agarbatti industry by supplying bamboo sticks and make India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ on Bamboo.
Jackfruit and pineapple produced in Tripura are currently being exported to other parts of the country as well as abroad. The handicrafts and handlooms of Tripura are now famous all over the country. He hoped that Tripura would become a trade gateway for the North-eastern states once the Special Economic Zone is established in Sabroom. He said, the present state government has introduced a single window system to encourage entrepreneurs to set up industries and has decided to provide various facilities in addition to 50% discount on electricity. Union Minister called upon the entrepreneurs to come forward to set up industries in Tripura by taking advantage of this opportunity.
State Industry & Commerce Minister Manoj Kanti Deb said, although Tripura is a small state, it is rich in various natural resources. The state government is working hard to establish industries in the state based on those resources. If more industries are set up, there will be economic development of the state as well as huge employment opportunities. The state has everything that is required for setting up an industry. The minister urged the entrepreneurs to come forward to set up industries in the state based on the large-scale production of pineapple, bamboo, jackfruit, tea, rubber etc. in the state. Other dignitaries present in the summit were TIDC Chairman Tinku Roy, secretary of Industry and Commerce department Dr. Prashant Kumar Goyal, deputy general manager of NABARD Saji K.V, Rubber Board chairman Dr. Sawar Dhananiya, principal chief conservator of forest D.K Sharma and president of Indian Chamber of Commerce Pradip Surekha.
