Assam has got its first export policy to boost exports. The State now has a competitive advantage through increased market penetration as well as to explore new markets for products in nine focus areas, which includes tea, its principal export item, and wellness hospitality and health tourism. The export and logistic policy, 2019, will be in force for five years.
‘Assam has unique location advantage, being the closest landmass of vibrant economies of the South East Asian countries. On Act East, Assam is on its way to get some of the best infrastructure in Asia to facilitate the largest volume of trade between India, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other ASEAN countries,’ the policy stated.
For decades, tea has been a major export item and the State produces more than half of the total tea of the country. Today, 761 big tea gardens and more than one lakh small tea gardens produce an average of 630 million kilograms of tea, which is more than 50% of the country’s total tea production.
The other objectives of the policy include enhancing the ease of doing exports through creation of simple, effective and efficient institutional mechanisms, simplified processes and efficient organization and coordination with stakeholders.
Besides tea, the other focus areas are agro and allied products, food processing, floriculture, organic farming, bamboo products, ornamental fishes and pisciculture and medicinal and aromatic products, hydrocarbon products, plastics and petrochemicals, tourism including medical tourism, hospitality and wellness.
