Our goal is to save foreign exchange by getting plywood market recognized at international platform: Khattar

Yamunanagar, May 16 (FN Agency) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that our primary aim is to save foreign exchange by promoting exports, for which the plywood market has to be recognized at the international platform. If the states work together, then Ek Bharat- Shreshtha Bharat will be formed. While giving exemption to the industrialists of plywood cluster, the Chief Minister announced that the industrialist who exports the goods of his factory, the market fee of 2 per cent will be returned to that industrialist. He said that if the plywood industry of Haryana gives employment to the people of Haryana, then the government will return Rs 48,000 per person per year to the industrialists for 7 years. Khattar said that 1.5 per cent subsidy will be given to any new plywood industry that will be set up for 10 years. He said that one per cent subsidy would be given for exports in the industry, subject to a maximum amount of Rs 10 lakh. He also announced to set up Forest Research Centre in Yamunanagar at a cost of Rs 50 crore that would benefit industrialists and farmers here.

Stating this while speaking at the Plywood Conclave here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that last year Rs 8,000 crore of plywood was produced in Haryana, but out of that plywood worth Rs 95 crore was exported which is relatively low. “We have to thinks ways to increase domestic exports so that the economic condition of the state can be improved.” He said that Yamunanagar has the largest plywood industry of North India. There is a need to think about how to increase its exports. He said that the Indian plywood sector is expected to grow by 5.5 per cent by 2026. Khattar said that in 2015, work was going on in plywood on its own accord. About 950 plywood industries were working at that time. New licenses were not being given to run the industry. Bribes of crores of rupees was being demanded for licenses. But now all the applications for promotion of industries have been accepted. He said that along with the traders, the condition of the farmers has also improved by setting up of plywood industry. Now, the wood is being sold at a price of Rs 1200 to Rs 1400 per quintal, but at that time the rate of wood was Rs 350 per quintal. The Chief Minister said that if the quality of the goods being sold by the industrialists is good, then the rates of the goods will also be better and exports will increase.

He said that a Common Facility Centre would be set up in the district to make better quality goods. He said that industrialists should be given facilities to promote industries. Under this, the industrialists who export their goods will be given 1.5 per cent annual subsidy for 10 years. He said that a Common Facilitation Centre is being established in Yamunanagar under the Medium Level Enterprises Cluster Development Scheme by the Government to help the plywood units in Haryana. This Common Facility Centre will help plywood manufacturers to improve the quality of their products, initiate product differentiation, and suggest ways to reduce the cost of production. He said that with the aim of helping the plywood cluster, the Quality Market Centre at Yamunanagar is also being improved. The Chief Minister said that Haryana is ranked second in the country after Kerala in the export of plywood clusters. Haryana has great potential for export of plywood. Assam Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana is progressing continuously towards development. He said that there is a lot of potential in the field of plywood. If the people of Haryana want to set up plywood industry in Assam, then all the necessary facilities are available there. He asked the industrialists of Haryana to cultivate in Assam, the climate there is favourable for industries.