Nath firm on wheat quality guidelines

The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today said the quality norms specified in the state trading corporation's three-million-tonnes wheat tender had been decided by the ministry and ruled out any relaxation.

The minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the corporation's (STC) golden jubilee celebrations. Nath earlier said this was a time to introspect and reflect both for the STC and the nation.

He said the corporation had a larger role to play in integrating the country's economy with the global economy.

On the occasion, a commemorative postal cover was released by the Union Minister for Communications and Technology Dayanidhi Maran. Speaking on the occasion, Arvind Pandalai, chairman and managing director STC, highlighted the corporation's achievements in the 50 years of its existence.

He presented a roadmap for the future role of the STC which would involve diversifying operations to new areas of trade, namely, iron-ore, steel, raw materials, coke chemicals, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, bullion, fertilisers and IT products.

Pandalai affirmed the STC's commitment in helping the government to double India's share in world merchandise trade by 2009.