Ch’garh needs air cargo facility to make better contribution towards country’s exports: CM

Raipur, Sep 21: While inaugurating the two-day ‘Vanijya Utsav’ (Commerce Fest) in capital city Raipur today, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Chhattisgarh is rich in natural resources and has all kinds of minerals available abundantly. Chhattisgarh has immense scope in the field of commerce and industry. Chhattisgarh can play an important role in the country’s export scenario. As Chhattisgarh is a landlock state, hence the air cargo facility is important for exporting the products manufactured in the state. Chhattisgarh Government has been demanding Government of India to provide air cargo facility in the state for a long time. Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh has no shortage of water, forest and land. Besides being the ‘bowl of paddy’, Chhattisgarh contributes 74% of the minor forest produce collection in the country. Medicinal herbs are abundantly available in the state, and processing-value addition to these herbs will help in promoting industry, commerce and export. This two-day event of ‘commerce fest’ is being organized under the joint aegis of Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Government of India and Chhattisgarh Commerce and Industry Department under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. In this event, Shephixel Kolkata, DGFT, CSIDC Customs and others concerning Ministry of Commerce are participating. The inauguration program was presided over by Chhattisgarh’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Kawasi Lakhma.
Paying tribute to the martyr freedom fighters of the country, Chief Minister Baghel said that the First Prime Minister of the country late Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s contribution in the rebuilding of the nation cannot be forgotten. In the year 1955-56, Bhilai Steel Plant was established in Chhattisgarh. This plant became the backbone of Chhattisgarh’s economy. Chief Minister further said that Chhattisgarh has thousands of varieties of paddy available, and it is known as the ‘bowl of rice’. There is abundant production and storage of forest produce in Chhattisgarh. From iron ore to tin and alexandrite, all kinds of minerals are found in this state. Chief Minister also emphasized on the need to balance demand and supply in the business sector, as the imbalance leads to loss. Chief Minister said that ‘Green Revolution’ was started in the 70s to meet the demand of food grains. But at present, the supply of food grains in the country is more than the demand (except for pulses and oilseeds). This is the reason why farmers have not been getting fair value for their produce.
Referring to Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy 2019-24, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that we have made provisions of various facilities for the entrepreneurs to promote the industrial sector of the state. This has created a positive environment for industrial development in the state. 140 MoUs have been signed with industrial institutions and entrepreneurs with an investment of 65 thousand crores. Chief Minister said that agriculture and forest produce based industries are also being promoted in the state. He emphasized that Chhattisgarh can play its better share in the country’s exports of US $ 700 billion, with availability of air cargo service. On the occasion, Chief Minister released the book ‘Bamboo the Green Gold’.
The programme was also addressed by Vikas Choubey, OSD, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce, Principal Secretary Industries Manoj Pingua. They said that the cooperation of entrepreneurs is necessary for boosting the export potential of the country. Pingua said that the export of Chhattisgarh was Rs 9,068 crore in the year 2019-20, which has increased to Rs 17,200 crore in the year 2020-21. Chhattisgarh is making steady progress in the field of exports. He gave detailed information about the efforts being made to promote industry and commerce in the state.
It is noteworthy that a two-day commerce fest is being organized on September 21 and 22 in the capital city Raipur, on the occasion of 75th anniversary of independence day. On this occasion, Secretary, Industries Department, Mr. Ashish Bhatt, Managing Director of CSIDC Mr. P. Arun Prasad, Shephixel Vice Chairman Dr. Lal Hingorani and other officials were present.