Raipur, 21 September 2021. While inaugurating the two-day commerce festival in the capital Raipur here today, Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel said that natural resources and all minerals are available in abundance in Chhattisgarh. There is immense potential for industry and trade here. The state of Chhattisgarh can play an important role in the country’s exports. Being a landlocked state, the facility of air cargo is necessary to send the product out here. We are constantly requesting the Government of India for the facility of air cargo, so that it is easy to export the product here. The Chief Minister said that there is no shortage of water, forest and land in Chhattisgarh. Apart from being a rice bowl, more than 74 percent of the country’s forest produce is stored in Chhattisgarh. There are abundance of medicinal plants here. Industry through their processing and valuation, Trade and exports will get a boost. This two-day program of commerce festival is being organized under the joint aegis of Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Government of India and Chhattisgarh Department of Commerce and Industry under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Shephixel Kolkata, DGFT, CSIDC Customs etc. related to Ministry of Commerce are participating in this event. The inauguration program was presided over by Chhattisgarh’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr. Kawasi Lakhma.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel while paying homage to the immortal martyrs who sacrificed everything for the country’s independence said that the first Prime Minister of the country, Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji has made a big contribution in the new construction of the country. In the year 1955-56, Bhilai Steel Plant was established in Chhattisgarh. This plant became the backbone of Chhattisgarh’s economy. The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is called the bowl of rice, there are thousands of varieties of paddy here. There is abundant production and storage of forest produce in Chhattisgarh. From iron ore to tin, alexandrite is available. He said that there is a need to balance demand and supply in trade. In the event of an imbalance in it, there is a loss. The Chief Minister said that the Green Revolution was started in the 70s to meet the demand of food grains. Today the situation is that if pulses and oilseeds are left in the country, then there is more food grains than required.
In view of the abundant production of paddy in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel also informed about the efforts being made by the state government to make ethanol from it. He said that the matter is not progressing further due to the lack of permission from the Central Government. He said that if the Central Government gives permission, then the surplus paddy of the state can be utilized. Foreign exchange spent on import of petroleum will be saved. Farmers will get better price of paddy. Industry and trade will also get a boost in the state. On this occasion, the Chief Minister informed about the construction of Gauthans under Suraji Gaon Yojna of Chhattisgarh and purchase of cow dung under Godhan Nyay Yojana and the products prepared from it. He said that through this organic farming has got a boost in the state. Now we are moving towards making electricity from cow dung. Two entrepreneurs of the state for power generation from cow dung
Referring to the new industrial policy 2019-24 of the state of Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that we have made a provision to provide many facilities to the entrepreneurs to promote the industry in the state. Due to which a better industrial environment has been created in the state. 140 MoUs have been signed with industrial institutions and entrepreneurs, in which an investment of 65 thousand crores will be made. The Chief Minister said that work is being done to promote agriculture and forest produce based industries in the state. In Chhattisgarh, the state government is giving all possible help to the entrepreneurs. He said that Chhattisgarh can also play its better share in the country’s exports of US $ 700 billion, for this it is necessary that along with promoting the export of minor forest produce, air cargo facility should be available. The Chief Minister released the book Bamboo the Green Gold on the occasion.
While addressing the program, Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Kawasi Lakhma said that Chhattisgarh government has made a special package for agriculture and forest produce based industries. The process of setting up the food park is in progress. He has urged the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Government of India to establish an export office in Chhattisgarh to promote exports. Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain said that two things are necessary to promote exports. First the cost of the product should be low and second the quality should be the best. He said that it is the responsibility of all of us to provide all possible help and facilities to the entrepreneurs. If we do this, entrepreneurs will become our brand ambassadors to promote the industry in the state.
The program was addressed by Shri Vikas Choubey, OSD, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce, Principal Secretary Industries Shri Manoj Pingua and said that the cooperation of entrepreneurs is necessary in increasing the export potential of the country. Shri Pingua said that the export of Chhattisgarh was Rs 9,068 crore in the year 2019-20, which has increased to Rs 17,200 crore in the year 2020-21. The state of Chhattisgarh is making steady progress in the field of exports. He gave detailed information about the efforts being made to promote industry and trade in the state.
Entrepreneurs and their representatives from export-oriented industrial units of various sectors including steel, agricultural and finished products from processing of forest produce from Chhattisgarh participated in the commerce festival. In this festival, information was given about the progress made in the field of manufacturing and exports in Chhattisgarh and the country in the last 75 years and how it is going forward continuously.
Significantly, a two-day commerce festival is being organized on September 21 and 22 on the occasion of 75th anniversary of independence in the capital Raipur. On this occasion, Secretary, Industries Department, Mr. Ashish Bhatt, Managing Director of CSIDC Mr. P. Arun Prasad, Shephixel Vice Chairman Dr. Lal Hingorani and other officials were present.
