I&C deptt stresses on quality products, packaging

February 19, 2022 37 Views No Comment

February 19, 2022
Correspondent/DIPR

Industries and Commerce (I&C) department, director, K Hokishe Assumi stressed on producing quality local products and packaging to make them eligible for export.

Hokishe remarked that at the end of the day packaging mattered and urged Nagas to emulate the packaging from products imported from countries like Australia, New Zealand, etc.

He said this while addressing a one-day capacity building training programme on packaging for export of agri food, handloom and handicraft products under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav held here at directorate of Industries. The programme was jointly organised by directorate of Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) under Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

“We say our products are organic. But our packaging and branding should also be presentable,” he emphasised.

While asserting that every culture had a specific standard for products, Hokishe maintained that local products were mainly agro-based and there were some bottlenecks. He informed that the department also intended to set up a testing laboratory and a warehouse at Dimapur soon.

Mentioning that the State government had a plan to brand agro products, besides handloom and handicrafts, Assumi said if this materialised, then local products could be sold under the brand. He stressed that Nagas should have their own packaging and brand.

He urged local artisans and entrepreneurs not to think of immediate returns, while continuing to bring innovations in their products and packaging.

Speaking on the occasion, MSME-DI Dimapur director Tali Longchar urged the gathering to avail loans under MSME schemes, but reminded them to develop soft skills to be a successful entrepreneur.

He called for focus to achieve something instead of imitating others and make good use of available raw materials and products to compete with others. Citing the instance of Mizoram, he claimed that the banks there approached people to avail loans, but in Nagaland the case was just the opposite.

He declared that the State government was prepared to help if anyone possessed soft skills and promote their work.

Tali said the union ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises would set up a technology centre for medicinal and aromatic plants by March this year.

During the training, ‘Basic concepts, principles and functions of packaging for export of Agri food, Handloom and Handicraft products of Nagaland’ and ‘CFB Transport Packaging of Agri food, Handloom and Handicraft products of Nagaland’ was presented by Dr. Babu Rao Guduri, joint director & head training & education division, Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai; ‘ Flexible packaging for export of Agri food, Handloom and Handicraft Products of Nagaland’ was presented by Puneet Agarwal, director, M/s Manjushree Polypacks Pvt. Ltd. Guwahati, and ‘Live demonstration and screening of a video of packaging for export of Agri food, Handloom and Handicraft products of Nagaland’ was presented by Rishu Gautam, assistant director, IIP Kolkata Centre.

The program was chaired by Rishu Gautam, Assistant Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkata Centre, who also delivered the vote of thanks. The one-day capacity building training program was organised by Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkata Centre, and sponsored by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce, Government of India, in association with Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland. Altogether, 180 participants took part in the training program.

The main objective of the workshop is to disseminate information about the trends and technology in the packaging of processed food, create awareness about the importance of Agri food, Handloom and Handicraft products, and also promote the export market with the use of innovative packaging designs & developments, standardisation etc. under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Source: https://www.nagalandpost.com/index.php/ic-deptt-stresses-on-quality-products-packaging/