The Hindu Business Line : `Govt focusing on plantation industry welfare'

THE Union Finance Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, has said that the Union Government has given attention for the welfare of plantation industry in the country.

Terming plantation industry as one of the oldest agro-industries in the country, he said that a Rs 500-crore revolving fund was set up by the Government to tackle the problems of coffee, tea, areacanut, and other plantation sectors.

Mr Singh was addressing members of the business community here on Tuesday. He said that the Union Government, which had announced various benefits for fisheries sector, would properly implement them.

Stating that Indians are not engaged in industrial fisheries, he said that fishing is a way of life for Indian fishermen.

The "Agenda of Governance" of the NDA, which will be released on April 8, will have specific solutions for agriculture, fisheries, and small-scale industrial sectors.

Stating that connectivity and communication play important role in the development of the region, Mr Singh said that Mangalore should become the principle hub of connectivity and communication. He hoped that the upgrading of Mangalore-Hassan railway line and Mangalore airport would help in this regard.

When one of the audiences sought the implementation of value-added tax (VAT), he said it would depend on the will of a minimum number of States to subscribe to VAT regime. The Union Government cannot impose VAT on its own. VAT is possibly the answer to problem of service tax paid by small-scale industries, he said.

When Mr Giridhar Prabhu, former President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that appreciation of Indian rupee was affecting the prospects of exporters, Mr Singh made it clear that rupee has appreciated only against the US dollar and not against other major currencies. Exporters should not worry about this, he said.

Earlier, Mr Yogish Bhat, former MLA and BJP candidate for Mangalore Assembly Constituency, who welcomed the gathering, sought special packages for coffee, fisheries, and beedi sectors in the region.

More Stories on : Plantations | Karnataka

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
World wheat prices to ease next season

Dearer cattle

Rasi Seeds to sell 3 lakh Bt cotton packets

Trapped in a protectionist mindset

Dubey panel's clean chit to endosulfan challenged

`Govt focusing on plantation industry welfare'

Mixed trend in rubber

Refined zinc demand seen rising 15 pc

Nabard support to TN, Pondy at Rs 2,340 cr

Coir factory workers' bonus

Reliance, Raymond in talks with Australian wool co

NCDC offers financial aid to rubber co-ops