Uttarakhand Aims to Boost Exports with ‘House of Himalayas’
In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with Sunil Barthwal, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to discuss plans to make Uttarakhand a hub for exporting agricultural products. The state has launched ‘House of Himalayas’ to promote local products, with APEDA playing a key role in promoting organic farming and GI-tagged products globally.
Industry Interaction Meet
An Industry Interaction meet was organized by APEDA, marking the first such event in the state. Over 200 participants, including CEOs from the agro-processing industry, attended. Discussions focused on promoting agriculture and horticulture in line with Uttarakhand’s climate, and policy decisions were made regarding the export of agricultural products and organic farming.
Support for Local Producers
Financial assistance for small tea producers was discussed under the tea development and promotion scheme (2023-2026). The event also saw the inauguration of the CART (Mobile Store) of House of Himalayas by Secretary Barthwal.
MoUs for Global Recognition
Several MoUs were signed to enhance the global presence of Uttarakhand’s products. Agreements were made with Lulu Group for global export, the Indian Institute of Packaging for improved packaging standards, and the Spices Board to promote local spices.
Doubts Revealed
Uttarakhand -: Uttarakhand is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and natural beauty. It is often called the ‘Land of the Gods’ because of its many Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites.
Pushkar Singh Dhami -: Pushkar Singh Dhami is the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. A Chief Minister is like the head of a state government in India, similar to a principal in a school.
Sunil Barthwal -: Sunil Barthwal is a high-ranking official in the Indian government, specifically the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This means he helps make decisions about trade and business in India.
Exports -: Exports are goods or products that are made in one country and sold to other countries. For example, if India sells mangoes to other countries, those mangoes are considered exports.
House of Himalayas -: The ‘House of Himalayas’ is an initiative or plan to promote products from the Himalayan region, like Uttarakhand, to other countries. It aims to make these products popular worldwide.
APEDA -: APEDA stands for the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. It is an organization in India that helps promote and develop the export of food products.
Industry Interaction meet -: An Industry Interaction meet is a gathering where people from different businesses and industries come together to discuss ideas and make plans. It’s like a big meeting to talk about how to improve business.
MoUs -: MoUs stand for Memorandums of Understanding. These are agreements between two or more parties, like a promise to work together on something, but not as strict as a legal contract.
