CM Ibobi Singh inaugurates food processing park in Imphal

Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh inaugurated the state's first food processing park at Nilakuthi. The total cost of the park is around 45 crores and it has a total of 49 plots of 600 square meters each which are to be allotted to entrepreneurs.

The park has facilities like cold storage, warehouse, drainage sewerage and one affluent treatment plant.

The park aims to provide space and basic infrastructures, like power, water etc. to several unemployed youths who wanted to start up their entrepreneurship in food processing at the Food Processing Park and establish their business.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh stressed the role of private participation in giving employment to unemployed youth. He said that the economy of the state would improve if there is the habit of working without wasting time.

"The government is seriously putting its efforts to provide employment to the unemployed youths of the state. To this end, the state government has already taken a policy decision to introduce the Manipur Start Up Policy which will benefit both skilled and unskilled unemployed youth in the state, he continued. Only some states of India like Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and West Bengal have introduced such a policy and the government is examining which model would be most appropriate for Manipur," he said.

Singh also said that the Nilakuthi Food Proceesing Park will facilitate entrepreneurs to establish their business. The objective of the park is to give employment opportunities and improve the economy.

"When there is employment opportunity and employment is given to our unemployed youth, then peace will prevail, and if peace prevails, then development will follow, he added.

Speaking as the president of the function, the state's Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that the food park has been set up with the aim of creating a sustainable agro-based industry in the region.

Saying that there has been a notable industrial growth in the last 15 years Govindas said there has been a growth of 40 percent in the handloom sector, 25.8 percent in the food processing sector and 20 percent in the MSME sector.

The government had also inaugurated two industrial estates, one each in Thoubal and Bishnupur Districts and a central poultry farm in Imphal West recently. All this, shows the commitment of the government in providing jobs to the unemployed in the state.

Giving the welcome and keynote address, Principal Secretary (Commerce and Industries) L. Lakher said that the total cost of the park is around 45 crores and has facilities like cold storage, warehouse, drainage sewerage and one affluent treatment plant.