New Delhi, October 31 (IANS). The central government has approved Guwahati's popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport as an export hub for agarwood chips and oil. This will provide relief to the farmers and exporters of the state. This information was given by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday.
In a post on social media platform X, Goyal said that this approval has been given on the request of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
He wrote, “Big news for Assam! On the request of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Modi government has approved Guwahati's popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport as an export hub for agarwood chips and agarwood oil.”
The minister said that this step will provide great relief to the farmers, producers and exporters who are associated with this product, in the production of which Assam leads.
Goyal said, “This is a big relief for farmers, producers and exporters associated with this particular product, of which Assam is a major producer. This is a huge step forward in the field of logistics not only for Assam but for the entire Northeast, which will now bring the potential markets even closer.”
Furthermore, he congratulated the people of Assam and the North-East.
This development has come to light when Assam exported 123 kg of agarwood (agar wood) pieces to Dubai in October. The state government called it a big step for the region.
Chief Minister Sarma had then said that this export is an important step towards expanding the international market for the state's traditional agarwood industry. More than 50,000 farmers and laborers are associated with this industry.
Sarma had said, “Taking the fragrant heritage of Assam to the world!”
According to the Chief Minister's Office, Assam accounts for about 81 percent of the country's total agarwood resources.
Agarwood, an aromatic wood produced by trees of the 'Aquilaria' species, is extensively used in making perfumes, incense sticks, essential oils and traditional aromatic products.
–IANS
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