BAOSHAN: Commerce and Industry minister Thongam Biswajit and his team interacted with officials of Baoshan Municipal Authority and highlighted the prospects of trade between Manipur and Baoshan and how it could flourish through cooperation.
The Baoshan Municipal Authority team was led by Yang Jun, Mayor of Baoshan, Yunan Province, China. The teams discussed several issues including strengthening of economic cooperation especially in the fields of industry, agriculture and tourism. The Manipur team was invited by the Mayor to take part in the South & South East Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair, 2017, which began from June 12 will continue till June 18 at Dianchi International Convention and International Sistership pavilion at Kunming, Yunan
Province.
The event is being co-hosted by China Chamber of International Commerce, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry and ASEAN-China Centre. This fair provides a new
platform of pragmatic exchanges and cooperation for establishing friendly relations between India and China.
During the interaction, Biswajit proposed for business opportunities on common development and prosperity of both. He narrated about the history of Manipur and also introduced his team. The minister dwelled on the prospects of trade between Manipur and Baoshan in the
fields of agriculture, minerals, process food, handloom and handicrafts products. Manipur
has the distinction of having the highest number and concentration of weavers in India given the small area of the state, he told the Mayor.
As the climatic and soil condition of the state is conducive for cultivation of Stevia plants and lemon grass, export of the finished products is promising. The expertise of Chinese technology may be required to develop industries in the state particularly in food industry and mining of minerals.
The prospect of popularising king chilly (U-morok) will be a reality if there is demand in Baoshan. In case there is a growing demand of cotton in China, export of cotton from India via Manipur can also be explored, he said.
To encourage friendship and trust, the minister conveyed the need to promote cultural exchanges between Manipur and China along with stating that this will also give a boost to tourism sector in Manipur and Yunan Province.
The minister also pointed out that as Manipur has sizable deposits of limestone and chromite, export and import of minerals that could be promoted to bring in more economic viability.
Biswajit invited Mayor Yang Jun and his team to Sangai Festival for friendly exchanges on social and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The other delegates in the state team include parliamentary secretary for tourism Dr S Ranjan, Commerce and Industry principal secretary L Lakher, Commerce and Industry director Luikham, Imphal Municipal Corporation ward no 18 corporator L Inunganbi, media coordinators to Chief Minister of Manipur L Bashanta and Chandrakishore, Rajen, RK Sherjit from the North East Federation on International Trade, Manipur Chapter.
Source: The People Chronicle
