"We are conscious of the Northeast. We are with you (exporters) to help and resolve your export problems, but you need to take the lead", said DGPF R S Gujral today in a meeting here with export and industry stakeholders of the region.
"The export community too has to take the challenge. The government can only help. Look for products other than tea and coal currently exported from the region," he said addressing an interactive meeting with the members of the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) N-E chapter and Federation of Industries and Commerce of Northeast Region (FINER).
The Centre, he said, was insisting on a stable policy regime by continuing with some of the earlier support mechanisms. "We should also try to involve the state governments in the NE to identify the items to be exported. Government can play a supporting role but the initiative has to come from exporters. The union finance minister said by 2020 India should have 5 per cent of world's trade in goods and services. The export target for 2008-09 is $ 200 billion ," he said.
A task force would be constitututed soon, Gujral said adding due representation should come fom the North-East to raise local issues. With FINER pointing out that the North-East was 1100 km away from the nearest sea port and thereby suffered from locational disadvantage, he said, "efforts are on to open a trade route with Myanmar to give access to a port at a short distance. Chittagong would be a good choice but diplomatic and political issues with Bangladesh have to be kept in mind."
