The Assam government has received enquiries for export of agricultural produce to Middle East countries during the Novel Coronavirus pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown.
Informing this at a press conference in Guwahati on April 26, Assam Transport and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, “We were intimated by the Agriculture department that a company has been in contact to import agricultural produce to Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.”
“The company will be arranging its chartered flights for the purpose, and when they were placed in touch with us through the Agriculture department, they requested some assistance in the Civil Aviation ministry and customs clearance,” he said.
Patowary added that they have put in the requests for the company and got them in contact with the relevant authorities and is awaiting further update on the permissions.
Assam had been exporting agricultural products to different countries since more than one year.
It has also been sending the agricultural produce to states like Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh during the ongoing lockdown, the minister said.
He further said the Transport department has been coordinating with Indian Railways and Food and Civil Supplies department to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Assam and other Northeast states.
“Essential drugs and medicines to all Northeast states are supplied from Guwahati, with the department facilitating movement of these drugs to places like Agartala and Imphal. Likewise, trucks were arranged for sending masks and other COVID-19 protection items to Aizawl, on request from Government of Mizoram,” Patowary added.
