Date:08/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/08/stories/2007080851992100.htm

Back Shefexil taps N-E brand to boost NTFP exports

Mohan Padmanabhan

Kolkata, Aug. 7 A special action plan has been drawn up by Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (Shefexil) to promote and develop the North East brand for raising the country’s exports of non-timber forest produce (NTFP). The plan has received a big boost with the Commerce Ministry recently designating the council as the nodal EPC for exports from the region.

The council is set to open its first satellite office (export development cell) in Shillong, Meghalaya soon, to be followed by similar such offices in other States of the region.

Talking to Business Line here recently on the development, Mr Pradeep Kumar Shaw, Chairman of Shefexil, said the council had invested significantly in terms of new opportunities in the North East by way of two proposed projects, pe rtaining to bamboo (Lawitgtai district of Mizoram and Dhalai in Tripura) and medicinal plants/botanical herbs (in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland), now in advanced stages of consideration by the Union Ministries of Commerce and Panchayati Raj institutions.

Pointing out that the North East was richly endowed with NTFP, offering large potential for export of items such as hill broom, medicinal plants/herbs, bamboo, ratan and canes, asafoetida, natural gums etc, which were already under the purview of Shefexil. Mr S. K. Saraf, former Chairman of the council, said the council now plans to get more directly involved in the overall development and promotion of exports of the NE region. Besides taking up pilot projects for vertical linkages and inclusive growth of the economically deprived sections associated with forests, the council will also fulfil the demands of the region by issuing registration-cum-membership certificates to exporters of the region online.

Describing the move to designate the council as the nodal agency for export development of the region as a major step towards integration of the North East industry with those in the mainland, Mr Shaw said the proposed two NE projects now awaits the backward region grant fund support under the Panchayati Raj Ministry.

He said there would be resultant direct employment benefits to the weaker sections associated with forests.

The council, having launched a strategic 10-year outlook plan in its Golden Jubilee year (1957-2007), with the theme of “Empowering Tribals, Enriching Lives”, intends to focus on products such as shellac, guar and bamboo.

The council, besides Shellac Swarojgar programmes in the States of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh has also launched the Cheronjee Swarojgar initiative in Chindwara, Madhya Pradesh and Guar Swarojgar in Rajasthan, Guar and Gujarat, the three major guar-producing States. The programmes cover some 53,000 beneficiaries.