Newmai News Network Imphal | February 27 The Trade, Commerce & Industries Department, Government of India, will set up Industrial estates in each of the sixteen districts of Manipur with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and the NEC. This was stated by Director, Trade, Commerce & Industries, M. Luikham while addressing the press today. At present, Industrial Estate of Imphal West district at Takyelpat, Bishnupur district at Tera Urak and Industrial estate of Thoubal district at Kuraopokpi are functioning at full swing, he informed. Three more industrial estates at Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Chandel are under construction and the department is planning for setting up industrial estate at Senapati and the Detailed Project Report has already been sent to the Central government. Industrial Estate at Imphal East in Moirang Kampu will be set up, Luikham added. The activities of the department can be broadly categorised under six groups: Village & Small Enterprises, Industries other than Village & Small Enterprises, Trade & Commerce, Mineral Development, Registration of Partnership Firms under Indian Partnership Act,1932 and Administration of the Factories Act,1948 and the Indian Boilers Act,1923 and the rules made there under. Under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, a target of 5379 beneficiaries for the year 2017-18 has been received from the Ministry of MSME for effective implementation jointly by DICs, KVIB, KVIC and banks. Identification of deserving candidates/ beneficiaries is under active process so as to sponsor their loan proposals to banks sanction. Food Processing Industry Sector is a fast growing Industry as it plays a vital role in the development of industries and creates large employment generation in the state. Food Park at Nilakuthi established by the department under the scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India and is managed by Manipur Food Industries Corporation Ltd. There are 49 plots (600 sq.m each) and 21 numbers of plots have been allotted to entrepreneurs of Food Processing Units. 236 Food entrepreneurs were given one week training under Mobile Entrepreneurs Development programme (EDP) on Food Processing at five different rural areas of Imphal East District. The department is planning to set up food processing unit in every district and land has been identified for setting up Food Processing Unit in Imphal East district. Speaking on Cluster Development Programme (CDP) under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Industries & Commerce Director informed that the Make in Manipur initiative has been launched to promote entrepreneurship in manufacturing and agro based activities. Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) has been established in nine district of the state under ASPIRE scheme of Ministry of MSME, for the promotion of marginalised farmers for doubling their income and to produce diversified products. Luikham asserted that two border huts at Behang, Churachanpur district and new Somdal in Chandel district will be established to regulate drug trafficking and unlawful items. The department has also taken up various actions to promote Trade under Act East policy. He said that the department is the monitoring body of The Integrated Check Post (ICP) which will be inaugurated soon. The ICP will have all the facilities for immigration, customs, local police including women constable, narcotics and drug control, postal, Banks, telecom, animal quarantine, plant quarantine, quality certification and inspection,export promotion council, trade facilitation counter and trade related public bodies, food testing lab ,truck parking facilities, staff quarters etc. He also informed that 964 factories were registered under the Factories Act, 1948 as on 31-01-2018 and a sum of Rs 7.04 lakh was collected as revenue and Rs 35,000 as professional tax for the year 2017-18. Additional Director, Geology and Mining Division, S.I. Sharma stated fourteen MoUs were signed between the State government and private companies/investors for mineral exploration with the total investment of Rs. 36,09,00 crore during the North East Business Submit which was held on November,2017. He maintained that state revenue will increased and will create job opportunities for the locals.
