An investment conference was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Govt. of Tripura with the support of the Union Ministry of Food Processing to focus on the potential of Tripura as an Agri Food processing hub .

In his inaugural address, Sarkar said: "Tripura offers a stable government, an investor friendly environment, a transparent policy regime and an efficient and responsive administration."

Inviting investors to set up projects in Tripura, he said: "Investors will get all support from the State Government."

He requested Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahay to set up a Mega Food Park in the state.

He also stressed that connectivity through Chittagong Port is the need of the hour to access the international markets.

"Investors should take advantage of the available opportunities and the opening up of the markets, including Bangladesh," Sarkar said.


Meanwhile, Sahay highlighted the great potential in the food processing sector in the north eastern region in view of the unique products and cultivation being organic by default.

While welcoming investments in the sector, he said: "The Ministry is looking to ensure that GST for food processing industries would be in the range of 0 to 4 %."

"The Ministry would give 100 % grant in setting up of a modern food testing laboratory at Agartala," he added.

Tripura Chief Secretary Sudhir Sharma gave an overview of the investment scenario in the state and highlighted growth rate of Tripura in the last decade of 10.71 % against the national average of 7.97 %.

Earlier, while welcoming the delegates, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Rajeev Singh stated that Tripura has certain intrinsic strengths that give it a distinctive advantage in the agribusiness sector due to which the state has become the leader in the production of a number of crops like pineapples, oranges, coconut, jackfruit and cashews. He lauded the creation of Agri-Export Zones for pineapple and setting up of a modern Food Park.

"The state govt and the investors must take advantage of the major developments in regional co-operation with ASEAN countries. The access through Chittagong port will provide immense advantage to Tripura and other adjoining land locked North Eastern states," Singh said.


Source: indiablooms.com