Odisha shared its views on export promotion in the State with the official Team of the Ministry of Commerce, Govt of India in a high level meeting held under the joint Chairmanship of Secretary Commerce, Govt of India Smt. Rita Teootia and Chief Secretary, Odisha Sri Aditya Prasad Padhi in secretariat conference hall today. The issues relating to export infrastructure and regulatory mechanisms were discussed in the meeting. Secretary Commerce Smt Teootia said, Odisha has a great tradition of export and today also the State has much potential. The Joint Secretary Commerce, Govt of India Sri Sanjaya Chadha siad, Govt 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 slow down the exports from Odisha has crossed 19,500 cr during 2014-15. Secretary Commerce Smt Teootia further added both the State and Central Govt are committed for 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. Replying to a media quarry after the meeting Chief Secretary Sri Padhi said that 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 Paradeep, Dhamara and Gopalpur wherein container terminal facility can be developed. 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 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 team was also requested to take up issues relatingto 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 cr 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 harbors, common facility and testing centers at food parks, and simplification of export regulations were also discussed and resolved in the meeting. 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. The representative from Paradeep Port, present in the meeting said that Port side container terminal is being developed in Paradeep port. 11 acres of land has been allotted to CONCOR for the purpose. This facility would have two warehouses of approx 3000 sq mts area and open stacking and cargo working area with rail connectivity. The team from the Ministry consisted of 10 members including Sri Anup Wadhwan, Director General of Foreign Trade, Joint Secretary Department of Commerce Sri Santosh Sadangi, CMD CONCOR Sri A.K. Gupta and other senior officers. The Development Commissioner Sri R. Balakrishnan, Principal Secretary MS&ME Sri Gagan Kumar Dhal, Pr. Secretary Skill Development & Technical Education Sri L.N. Gupta, Pr. Secretary Forest & Environment Sri Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Pr Secretary Steel & Mines Sri R.K. Sharma, Pr Secretary Industry Sri Sanjeeb Chopra , Secretary School & Mass Education Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary Fisheries & Animal Resource Development Sri Bishnupada Sethi, Secretary Panchayati Raj Sri D.K.Singh, CMD IDCO Sri Sanjaya Singh, CMD GRIDCO Sri Hemant Sharma along with other senior officers from concerned departments of Govt of Odisha participated in discussions.
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