Guwahati, Feb. 4: The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) has called for laying emphasis on industries which can use local resources and have a local market.
Speaking at business meetings organised by the NEDFi at Silchar and Aizawl recently, its chairman and managing director J.P. Saikia said as big investments and outside investors were not forthcoming, the priority should be to develop local material.
The business meets were organised to woo local entrepreneurs of Barak Valley in Assam and Mizoram and to attract investors from outside to these regions.
Saikia said the credit-linked new enterprise creation programme of the NEDFi aimed at attracting the educated unemployed youths of the region and encouraging technically-qualified entrepreneurs. Industries like automobile servicing, tourism, ginger and turmeric processing are some of the sectors which have investment potential, he pointed out.
More than 200 potential investors took part in the deliberations and expressed their desire to start industrial activities in the Barak Valley through NEDFi’s various schemes of finance.
Industries minister Bhubaneswar Kalita said there is potential for development of small-scale industries based on the requirements of the tea sector as well as availability of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Minister of state for cooperation M.I. Laskar urged NEDFi to help small entrepreneurs of the valley in the development of marketing network like the NEDFi haat in Guwahati.
In the Aizawl meet, Mizoram Governor A.R. Kohli urged NEDFi to organise special entrepreneurship development programmes on project formulation and tour-related entrepreneurship development programmes. He observed that the NEDFi’s micro finance scheme could be implemented through village councils in the state.
Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said coordination among all development and financial institutions was required for revolutionising the state’s economy.
Industries minister K. Thangzuala said only one industrial growth centre had been started in the state and issues like preparation of project report, settlement of land and delay in clearing projects had to be resolved.
NE projects
A committee, headed by the Cabinet secretary, will monitor the progress of three vital projects in the Northeast which have significant implications for the security and economic growth of the region, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
The three schemes, which are part of the Prime Minister’s 28-point package for the Northeast, are the Ranganadi hydro-electric project proposed at Lower Subansiri, fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences at Shillong.
Atul Sinha, secretary of department of Development of Northeast Region (Doner), said the department will disburse Rs 500 crore every year from the non-lapsable pool of Central resources of which Rs 50 crore and Rs 30 crore have been earmarked for Mizoram and areas within the Bodo Territorial Council in Assam. This grant will be valid for a period of five years.
Union minister C.P. Thakur briefly outlined the tasks that lay ahead for the department.
