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Chennai:
Port Wings News Network:
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75th year of India’s Independence, the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by flagging off ‘Dandi March’ from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad on 12th March 2021. This Mahotsav will continue till 15 August 2023. The aim of celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is to create a Vision for India in 2047.
APEDA, a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is the nodal agency for promoting Indian agro and processed food exports and is responsible for facilitating and promoting export of horticulture, floriculture, processed food, poultry products, dairy and other agro products.
APEDA has taken number of export promotion activities and initiatives, by way of development of virtual portals for organizing Virtual Trade Fairs, Farmer Connect Portal, e-office, Hortinet Traceability system, Buyer Seller Meets, Reverse Buyer Seller Meets, product specific campaigns etc. APEDA has been closely working with state government for creating infrastructure and promotion of export from the state.
Under the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations APEDA Regional Office at Chennai organised “Agri Exporters Conclave for Tamil Nadu stakeholders” on virtual platform on 04.01.2022. The initial program of physical conclave had to be shifted to virtual program due to increase in new pandemic cases across the State. Around 200 participants comprising stakeholders from Central Govt., State Govt. agencies, Exporters, Exporters Associations, FPO’s attended the event.
The Conclave was virtually inaugurated by Dr. M Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA, Dr. M K Shanmuga Sundaram, Addl. DGFT-Chennai, Shri C Samayamoorthy, Agri. Production Commissioner & Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and Shri T Venkatakrishna, CGM, NABARD-Chennai.
Dr. M Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA suggested to prepare potential product matrix of 10-15 products and creating product centric infrastructure facilities to increase exports from the State. He also stressed upon increasing the share of value added products in exports from the State which is at present low. He assured all the support for conducting capacity building program and awareness program for specific stakeholders in coordination with NABARD,TNAU, SFAC & NAFED.
Dr. M K Shanmuga Sundaram put on record the export performance of agri & agri products from the Country in general and TN State in specific and also mentioned about creating export markets for promotion of potential GI products from TN.
Shri C Samayamoorthy, APC & Secretary to the Govt. of TN highlighted about export potential of TN i.e. fruits, vegetables, rice, cereals moringa, jasmine, cut flowers, processed fruits & vegetables, organic food products and medicinal plants. APC also mentioned about the initiatives taken by the Government for farmers and exporters of Tamil Nadu by way of creating Council for Exports and Food Processing in Chennai, Export Facilitation Centre for Moringa in Madurai, GI tagging of potential products and other support extended to farmers & exporters through specific Agri Budget brought out.
Officials from DGFT, APEDA, EIA, ECGC, NPPO, DIC & TNSAMB made powerpoint presentations on the role and responsibilities of their sector in promoting Farmers, FPOs, Agri & Hort. Sectors, Processed food sectors and Industrial sectors. Strategies to increase exports from the Tamil Nadu State was also discussed during the virtual Conclave.
