Limalenden Longkumer
Mokokchung | December 1
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries, Jairam Ramesh conveyed that that the Government of India has given a “Golden Jubilee gift” to the people of Mokokchung, a Rs.600 crore gift to revive the Nagaland Pulp and Paper Mill at Tuli, some 70 kilometers away from here, for which the renowned private agency Tata Consultancy Engineering has been appointed to oversee the project. Ramesh was speaking as chief guest at the culmination programme of the 50th anniversary of Mokokchung district. The Union Minister however challenged the people of Mokokchung and said that it was up to the people, the MLAs, the civil society and the Church to ensure that “this 600 crores of Rupees does not go to building houses, buying cars, fighting elections or getting rich, but revival of the Paper Mill.”
The Paper Mill will produce 66,000 tons of print paper out of bamboo, providing means of livelihood to more than 10,000 farmers and directly employing about five hundred people. He said that the Tuli Paper Mill was a “dream project of Indira Gandhi,” saying that everybody in Delhi initially objected to establishing the paper mill in Nagaland, and quipped, “I hope this time, Nagaland Pulp and Paper Mill produces paper,” bringing laughter to the several thousands thronged at Imkongmern Sports Complex. He regretted that the Paper Mill went defunct in 1981 or thereabout but added that it is being revived after 25 years and described its revival “historic.”
He was also particular in asserting that the Ministry of Commerce is taking a number of initiatives to improve trade and commerce in the region and the ministry is ready to help the people of Nagaland to exploit resources for their benefit. For the first time in India, he said, the ministry has roped in a leading private company, Indian Tobacco Corporation (ITC) to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Spices Board and the Government of Nagaland on 23rd October 2007 in order to promote cultivation, processing and marketing of organic spices like ginger, chili, turmeric and black pepper.
The ITC will provide processing and marketing infrastructure and find national and international market, he said. The third major initiative that the Ministry of Commerce is undertaking, he said, is in the area of medicinal plants in Nagaland. The Calcutta-based Emami Company has been tied up with to help develop Nagaland as a source of medicinal plants. Three specific aromatic and herbal plants are being identified, he said, which include citronella, eucalyptus oil and ginseng. Nagaland is the only place in India which produces ginseng. He said to impress upon the Chief Minister, the idea for which is to develop three thousand women’s self-help groups in the state who will take charge of cultivating the medicinal plants.
He also disclosed that the Ministry of Commerce has advised the Coffee Board of India to provide assistance to the Government of Nagaland for the cultivation, production and processing of coffee in the State. He also added that the Government of India is doing its best to promote economic ties with Myanmar. There is currently only one international trade center along the 16,000 kilometers border between India and Myanmar. He said that if the Government of Nagaland has a proposal for the establishment of an international trade center along Nagaland-Myanmar border, the Government of India would examine and consider the proposal very seriously. “I am conscious of the importance of Myanmar,” he said and added that economic ties with the country will be intensified.
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