Jaipur: A Rs 26-crore Spice Park will be
opened in Jodhpur by March next year, Spices Board chairman
Vijay Kurien announced today.
Speaking at a high-level meeting in Jaipur, Kurien said
that in order to increase the production of coriander in
Rajasthan, especially in the Kota belt, it was agreed that a
second Spice Park should be set up in Ramganj Mandi.
The possibility of setting up projects of the Department
of Commerce was explored at the meeting between senior
officers of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and senior
officials of the Rajasthan government.
The meet was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary S
Ahmad.
Union Ministry Commerce Joint Secretary Shyam S Agarwal
said that the budget under Assistance to States for
Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities
(ASIDE) for the government of Rajasthan was being increased
from Rs 13 crore to Rs 25 crore.
RIICO managing director Rajendra Bhanawat said that
under the ASIDE scheme, a sum of Rs 190.78 crore has
been sanctioned and an expenditure of Rs 132.50 crore
incurred. He said that 14 projects have been completed and the
remaining six are in progress.
The Ministry of Commerce would also favourably consider
providing financial assistance for a world-class exhibition
complex and convention centre at EPIP, Sitapura, in Jaipur,
the joint secretary said. Similarly, a proposal for the
National Manufacturing Investment Zone (NMIZ) in the DMIC
would also be considered by the ministry.
CII representatives said that the Skills Development
Centre would become operational in eight months. Rajasthan
exports guar gum worth Rs 1,558 crore annually.
The meet was informed that the Industrial Infrastructure
Upgradation Scheme (IIUS), which had been discontinued, is
being revived again. Under this scheme, 75 per cent cost of
the project -- subject to a maximum of Rs 60-crore assistance
-- could be provided.
Rajasthan would submit its Rajsamand proposal for a
Kishangarh-like marble complex under this scheme.
State officials informed the delegation that Rajasthan’s
major exports were in the areas of gems and jewellery,
handicraft, garments and guar gum. To showcase Rajasthan?s
products in international markets, a series of 'Made in
Rajasthan' shows needs to be organised, they added.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 23:37