North East Chapter Kaushik Dutta MRM 2016-17 North East Chapter Kaushik Dutta

North East India-A Glance Source: http://databank.nedfi.com/content/north-east-india

North East India- A Glance Comprises of 8 States of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura & Sikkim. The NER covers 2.62 lakh sq.km which accounts for 7.9% of total geographical area of the country. The population of NER is 40 million (3.1% of all India, 2011 census). NER region shares 2% of the border with mainland of the Country and 98% is linked with the International border.(Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar & China.

…continued The NER is bountifully endowed with bio-diversity, hydro-potential, oil and gas, coal, limestone and other minerals. Forest resources include rubber, cane and bamboo timber, hardwood, medicinal plants and herbs. Tea and Petroleum are the two major industries which is playing a vital role in NER’s economy. The other medium and small sector industries include cement, paper, jute, plywood, handlooms and handicrafts.

Comparative Analysis 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Number of Domestic Events Membership 14 26 Renewal 5 15 23 Revenue from RCMC 111000 257506 336500 Expenditure on Domestic Events 56572 73289 14374 Certificate of Origin Revenue from COO 37 4100 88 11700

Membership Revenue Analysis 2015-2016 2016-2017 TGT ACH % 200000 N/A 257506 35 129 284000 50 336500 49 118 98

Calendar of Events Organised-16 Date Topic Venue 17.06.2016 Seminar on Export Credit & Facilitation Gangtok, Sikkim 29.06.2016 Workshop on Online Retail Export Opportunities with Ebay Guwahati, Assam 29.07.2016 Workshop on Importance of Insurance in International Trade 04.08.2016 International Business Forum-Expanding Business Globally, SAIF Zone 30.08.2016 Niryat Bandhu and Export Awareness Workshop Mahendraganj, Meghalaya 30.09.2016 Workshop on foreign Exchange Risk Management 28.10.2016 Workshop on Export Promotion of Agricultural Machinery and Products under Niryat Bandhu Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam

….continued Date Topic Venue 18.11.2016 Workshop on Export Awareness and Export Documentation Morea, Manipur 23.11.2016 Niryat Bandhu, Export Procedures and Documentation Workshop Champai, Mizoram 03.02.2017 Niryat Bandhu and Export Awareness Workshop Agartala, Tripura 17.02.2017 Dalu, Meghalaya 21.02.2017 Bholaganj, Meghalaya 28.02.2017 Gasuapara, Meghalaya

….continued Date Topic Venue 03.03.2017 Niryat Bandhu and Export Awareness Workshop Dhubri, Assam 08.03.2017 Seminar on FTAs and Self Certification on EU GSP in association with Department of Commerce, DGFT & Tea Board Guwahati, Assam 24.03.2017 Workshop on FOREX & Risk Management under Niryat Bandhu

Proposed Events (next two months) Topic Place May 2017 Workshop on Export Finance & Documentation Golokganj, Meghalaya May 2016 Workshop on Coverage of Insurance by ECGC Guwahati, Assam June 2016 Workshop on Export Awareness and Documentation Kokrajhar, Assam Workshop on Financing options in International Trade Sutarkandi, Assam

Issues faced by Exporters LACK OF COMPETITIVE EXPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: There is lack of export infrastructure such as international standard packaging units, common testing and certification centres etc. in the region. INLAND CONTAINER DEPOT (ICD): There is no option for the smaller exporters to ship their consignment in smaller containers from Amingaon ICD. Hence exporters have to send their consignment by road ways to Kolkata for shipment which incurs a huge cost. APPROACH ROADS TO LCS: The approach roads to most of the Land Custom Stations(LCS) are at a deplorable state due to which vehicle movements become extremely difficult. INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN AIRPORTS- The airports are not equipped with proper storage facilities for the perishable items. COLLATION OF EXPORT IMORT DATA- Since most of the Export and Import of the region takes place via Kolkata, it becomes difficult to exactly analyse the Volume of Export and Import that is happening from the region.

Issues faced by Exporters ABSANCE OF INSTITUTES AND DESIGN CENTRES- There is no institutes and design centres for training of entrepreneurs to make exportable handicraft items. KNOWLEDGE UPGRADATION- Barring a few most of the Exporters in the region lacks the basic knowledge of export procedures and the various incentives of the Government. VIRTUALY NO WAREHOUSE FACILITIES AND INADEQUATE MEANS OF TRANSPORT. NO COLD STORAGE FACILITIES IN AIRPORTS AND RAILWAY STATIONS. THE ROAD ROUTE THROUGH GUWAHATI TO MOREH IS VERY BAD AND IT TAKES MORE THAN 30 HOURS TO REACH INDO MYANMAR BORDER WITH NO STORAGE FACILITIES. NO NOTIFIED EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE IN NORTH EAST STATES.

Strategies adopted for increasing Membership IEC holders list is being collected from JDGFT, Guwahati and Deputy DGFT, Shillong and followed up on a regular basis. Existing member referral service is being used to enrol new members of their exporting community. More programs are conducted near operating LCS’s to sensitize the exporters thereby converting them to members. Social Media such as Facebook is used. A WhatsApp group is created wherein brand FIEO is promoted. Handholding the new exporters in getting IEC and enrol as a member.

Silver lining.. Study on Export Strategy for the states of Meghalaya and Mizoram is being conducted by FIEO.

Thank You Sources: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/23-pictures-that-prove-north-east-india-is-the-most-instagrammable-place-on-earth-6793