Delegation of Commerce Ministry meets Chhattisgarh CM

A delegation of Union Ministry of Commerce today met Chhattisgarh Chief MinisterRaman Singh, state officials and local exporters here and asked the state government to promote agricultural and minor forest produce sectors in which it has huge potential.
"Chhattisgarh already exports rice and many more products can be exported by enhancing the volume, such as tamarind,gingerand herbal products," Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said.
The Centre willsupport a Chhattisgarh-basedcertification agency recognised by the state Governmentfor the export of agro-based products, she said while stressing the importance of value addition of such products.
'India trade portal' launched by the Centre has information about tradeagreements with other countries, the prominent foreign importers, size of export markets, sanitary rules applicable in foreign countries, etc., and exporters can access the portal freely, Teotia said.

Chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Krishna Kumar said the authority will support the state in the exportof certain fruits and vegetables.
"APEDA will handle the forward linkage while state government will handle backward linkage...We have prepared some package of practise that we will share with state government....APEDA will then bring exporters who in turn will pick up product from here," he added.