IMPHAL, December 30: The recommendation of the one-day industrial development dialogue on the industrial potential in Manipur and Look East Policy was released by the commerce and industry minister Govindas Konthoujam.
At a simple function organised by the All Manipur Entrepreneurs’ Association at the mini conference hall of chamber of the minister at the Secretariat, Govindas said that the small function will be very meaningful in the reformation process of the industrial sector.
We know that the department has many bottlenecks as evident in the past. In the last decade out of Rs 27 crore allocated, Rs 15.8 crore had been used in the handloom and handicraft sector.
We need to restructure and reform the department, he said before lauding the recommendation informing that it touched all the important points for reformation and restructuring of the department.
He added that the entire structure called for restructuring with the help of entrepreneurs. We need the help and upgradation of other departments to ensure proper power supply, water supply and cash flow.
A directive from the Indian government also recommended separate directorates for each sector like industry, handloom and handicraft, mining and geology, trade and commerce. He said process to work out the modalities in this regard is in progress.
He further said that Manipur government will be entrusted with three directorates which will be established very soon, in part fulfillment of a directive from the Ministry of Textiles to delegate different trades under different directorates of handloom and handicraft, trade and commerce and industry with addition of geology and mining.
He added that somehow, after seven years an industry policy is to be launched which will coincide with the termination of the end of the North-East Industrial Investment Policy (NEIIP). And we also regret that none of our state entrepreneurs benefit from the NEIIP. So the North East states industrial Ministers urged to the government of India for extend NEIIP for another more five years in North East state because the facility were allotted only in only two out of eight state and we pursue the centre.
Expressing satisfaction on the emergence of an increasing number of successful entrepreneurs in the state, Govindas also mooted steps to work out any lack of communication and to make interaction between these entrepreneurs and the state government for which an Industrial Advisory Board will be set up soon to that effect.
Shedding light on the instances leading to the stoppage of exploration work by the ONGC in the state, Govindas said that the government is preparing a plan to share royalties with the residents of areas where such exploration activities are carried out and announced the approval of the centre for construction of Cargo Terminal at Pallel, near Jiribam Railway station and Moreh.
He also disclosed a proposal sent to the Ministry of Textiles for upgrading the existing Apparel Training Centre at Porompat to a training college, expressing the expectations for a positive reply.
He further said that economic blockades, general strikes and bandhs are the biggest impediments in the efforts of the state and its people towards development of trade and commerce and it has been resolved to hold such organizers accountable for all resultant loss under applicable law, expressed Govindas.
The recommendation released of setting up of the advisory board for mutual appreciation and responsive behavior between entrepreneurs and administration; an entrepreneurs guided government policy with separate cells to attain to the Look East Policy, technology, marketing, subsidy, credit and Industrial counselling centre; separate commerce and Investment directorate in view of the rising importance and imperativeness of the LEP of India, the revamping of MANIDCO and like Vision Industries, 2025, Manipur.
S Rishikumar Singh, president, AMEA; Prof N Mahendra Singh; Th Joykumar Singh, Executive Committee Member, AMEA and other official and entrepreneurs were present at the function.