The Hindu Business Line : Govt nod for 4 agri-export zones

THE Inter-departmental steering committee, chaired by the Commerce Ministry, on Wednesday cleared establishment of four agri-export zones (AEZ), one each for basmati rice in Punjab, apples in Himachal Pradesh, mangoes in Andhra Pradesh and flowers in Tamil Nadu, according to Mr. Anil Swaroop, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products' Export Development Authority (APEDA).

The APEDA chief told newspersons here on Thursday that China had recently expressed its willingness to enter into a memorandum of understanding for buying Indian mangoes. Hitherto, China was not allowing import of Indian mangoes. A Chinese team visited the mango orchards in Maharastra and Uttar Pradesh twice to judge the quality as well as production practices following which the country had decided to import Indian mangoes.

He said that AEZ for basmati rice was estimated to cost Rs 23.30 crore, for mangoes Rs 17.9 crore, for flowers Rs 15.89 crore and for apples Rs 57.07 crore. All the four AEZs were being funded through contributions from the Union Government, the respective State Governments and by the private sector. On the whole, the Centre would be investing Rs 30.62 crore, while the State Governments would contribute Rs 25.88 crore. The private sector would invest the remaining amount.

Mr Swaroop said APEDA was also looking at establishment of AEZ s for chillies, eggs and animal products in Andhra Pradesh. So far, 32 AEZ have been sanctioned for 16 States in the country.

Last year, APEDA had launched a mango promotion drive in England, Germany, Dubai, Malaysia and Hong Kong. As a result, nearly Rs 100 crore worth of mangoes were exported as against Rs 70 crore in the previous year. This year, APEDA had a much larger strategy to promote the export of mangoes and also mango products, he said.

Earlier, addressing a seminar on strategies for export growth and diversification of agricultural and processed food products, the APEDA Chairman pointed out that it was high time for the agri-sector to work together to utilise the emerging opportunities in the post-WTO era. The seminar was jointly organised by the GITAM Institute of Foreign Trade (GIFT) and the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The GIFT Director, Dr. C. S. Venkata Raman, said the countries that were exporting only primary agricultural products had not progressed. Therefore, there was a need for production of value added products.)

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