Port Blair, Aug. 17: The inaugural programme of Buyer-Seller Meet on Jute Diversified Products of four days duration sponsored by National Jute Board (NJB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Kolkata & organised by Jute Service Centre-Port Blair (JSC-PB) in collaboration with A & N Consultancy Centre (ANCON), Port Blair was held at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Industries, Middle Point on Thursday, August 16, 2012.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Guest of the programme, Er. M. N. Murali, Jt. Secretary & Director of Industries, A & N Administration said that the present demand amongst the tourists of these islands is to buy products with a local flavor and if Jute Diversified Products including bags, handicrafts etc. could be produced locally in large numbers it would add to the reservoir of local products. He advised the SHGs to get the unit registered with DIC as a manufacturing activity to avail of the various facilities and incentives including Transport Subsidy being extended to the Industrial Units in the A & N Islands. He further told them to get in touch with the local Govt. Emporia viz. Sagarika and Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan for display and sale of their products. He expressed keen interest in the manufacturing process from raw materials to finished products and enquired about the difficulties being faced by the SHGs. He appreciated the efforts of ANCON in providing training to the SHGs and in organizing the Meet. Altogether 8 Self Help Groups are exhibiting their products in the Meet. The jute diversified products include File Cover, Water Bottle Bag, School Bag, Money Purse, Ladies Bag, Ladies Hand Bags etc. and Jute Jewellery Items etc.

Er. Johnson Abraham, JSC-PB in charge clarified certain issues with regard to creation of jute raw material bank, availing of transport subsidy for raw material for the units etc.

Shri D. K. Katara, Dy. Director Incharge, Br. MSME-DI, Dollygunj, Shri Ajit Anand, Asst. Director of Industries, Shri Abu Backer, IPO, DIC, Shri A. Sinharoy, EO, A & N KVIB, Officials of Industries Department and ANCON also graced the occasion.