Guwahati, Jan. 6: The Centre has prepared a bail-out package for Assam’s ailing tea industry. Tea exporters from Assam, who use the inland container depot at Amingaon, will receive an enhanced transport subsidy of Rs 2 per kg. Currently the transport subsidy is Re 1 per kg. According to a Federation of Industries and Commerce of North Eastern Region (Finer) release, the Tea Board and the commerce ministry has agreed on principle to enhance the transport subsidy by Re 1 and a notification in this regard would be issued soon.
The request was accepted by the commerce ministry and the Tea Board at a meeting on export promotion from the Northeast held in New Delhi recently. The meeting was chaired by minister of state for commerce Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
Finer’s proposal for the setting-up of air cargo complex at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi international airport also received favourable response at the meeting, the release said.
The Tea Board and the commerce ministry also agreed to look into Finer’s proposal for setting up an exclusive Northeast export promotion council, the release added. It said the Centre was also considering its demand for customs duty exemption on all capital goods imported through the inland container depot at Amingaon.