Guwahati airport approved as export point for agarwood products
The Centre has designated Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport for the export of agarwood chips and oil.
The Centre has approved Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati as a designated export point for agarwood chips and agarwood oil, according to The New Indian Express and The Assam Tribune.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the Narendra Modi government granted the approval at the request of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Goyal stated the decision is a logistical leap for Assam and the Northeast that brings international markets closer to producers.
Chief Minister Sarma said the move would simplify logistical requirements and boost the income of local farmers and agripreneurs. He noted that Assam is a leading producer of the product, which has high demand in global markets.
Sarma stated that approximately 81 per cent, or about 12 crore, of the country's agarwood trees are found in Assam. The industry supports the livelihoods of around 50,000 farmers and workers.
The development follows an export of 123 kg of agarwood chips to Dubai on October 26, which Sarma flagged off. Agarwood was selected under the 'One District One Product' initiative for the Golaghat district.