Assam fruits to get market in Hong-Kong, Dubai

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Local fruits from various districts of Assam will find markets in Dubai and Hong-Kong with AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS) on Monday started a dedicated air freighter service at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport at Borjhar here.

AAICLAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Airports Authority of India (AAI) to handle air cargo and allied services.

A total of 2 tons of oranges through air cargo will be sent by SpiceJet’s newly inducted Spicefresh services, one ton each to the markets of Hong-Kong & Dubai. APEDA, the coordinating agency of Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is working with various stakeholders to bridge the gaps for exports and to link produce of North East to the international markets. The APEDA has persuaded with various airlines to charge competitive rates for exports from these regions.

Flagging off the Monday’s event at LGBI Airport here, State Industry & Commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said it was a dream come true for farmers of Assam as their agriculture produces would find markets overseas. He said farmers of the State are hard working and they could produce huge amount of quality agriculture produces to capture international markets.

Speaking on the occasion D.K. Kamra, Regional Executive Director of AAI said the AAI is developing another international air cargo complex in Guwahati. Once the project is completed, the annual handling capacity of the cargo complex will reach up to 2 lakh metric ton with all the facilities available here at the LGBI airport, he said adding the AAI has plans to operate similar facilities from the other airports such as Dibrugarh & Silchar.

Also read: Concern over sale of artificially-ripened fruits