Odisha shared its views on export promotion in the State with a team of officials of the Union Ministry of Commerce in a high level meeting held under the joint chairmanship of Union Commerce Secretary Rita Teootia and Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Thursday.
The issues relating to export infrastructure and regulatory mechanisms were discussed.
Teootia said Odisha has a great tradition of export and today also the State has much potential. Joint Secretary Commerce Sanjaya Chadha said the Government of Odisha has taken a number of proactive steps for promotion of export.
Odisha has been a pioneering State for putting in place a progressive Fishery Policy in the year 2015 covering the entire gamut of fisheries- harvest, post-harvest infrastructure, market support, socio-economic issues of fishing community and related issues.
In spite of global slowdown, the exports from Odisha crossed Rs 19,500 crore during 2014-15.Teootia said both the State and Central Governments are committed to infrastructural development in the State.
“We need to work together in close collaboration to sort out the regulatory issues and expedite the completion of the projects,” she maintained.
Chief Secretary Padhi told mediapersons, “We have appraised the team about the need for establishing container terminal facility in ports without which exporters from Odisha are being constrained to export containerized products through the ports of Vizag, Haldia, Kolkata, etc.
Odisha has 3 operational ports at Paradip, Dhamara and Gopalpur wherein container terminal facility can be developed.” The Chief Secretary also highlighted the need for air cargo complex, cargo custom clearance facility and direct air linkage to potential destinations such as South Asian countries from the Bhubaneswar air port.
In absence of these facilities the State is not able to export handicraft, agro-processed, food products, germs, jewelry etc from Odisha though there is enough export potential in these sectors.
The Central team was also requested to take up issues relating to setting up of a pre-shipment toasting laboratory of marine products by Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPDA) at Bhubaneswar.
There are more than 20 marine exporters in Odisha and seafood of more than worth Rs 2,000 crore is being exported. Presently, Odisha exporters depend largely on laboratories in other States.
The matters relating to interstate coordination for laying of more infrastructures at fishing harbours, common facility and testing centers at food parks, and simplification of export regulations were also taken up.
The team assured that they very well appreciate the needs raised by Odisha for export promotion and the Ministry of Commerce would provide necessary cooperation for the purpose.