Assam’s vegetables now available in UAE markets

In a historic development in the northeast region, fresh vegetables sourced from various districts of Assam, was directly exported to the markets of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including Dubai, an official said on Monday.

Fresh vegetables sourced from the districts of Assam are now directly exported to UAE from Guwahati Airport Air Cargo facility marking a historic development.

With Customs EDI clearance at Guwahati Airport, farmers & exporters are sending their produce across the globe. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/nU58ERnpkE

— Ministry of Civil Aviation (@MoCA_GoI) November 19, 2018

The first consignment of the shipment was dispatched from the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport on Sunday through Air India flight AI 829 at 7:34 pm, it said.

Also Read | AAI inks pact with US agency to prepare modernisation roadmap

“For the first time in the history of the northeastern region, this facility has been started having direct export mode via air cargo,” Airports Authority of India (NER) Regional Executive Director DK Kamra said.

Historic moment for #AirCargo in NER
Local veggies sourced frm various dist of #Assam directly sent to overseas market from AAI's Air Cargo terminal with all customs & plant quarantine clearances avl at Guwahati Airport
Abt 810kg fresh veggies sent by @airindiain to Dubai today. pic.twitter.com/cbLNxmRnsC

— RED NER (@aairedner) November 18, 2018

“A total of about 810 kg of vegetables, including pointed gourd, green seem, black seem, turnip, cucumber, brinjal, lemon etc. were sent by an Air India cargo plane,” said Kamra.

As per the agri-export promotion body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) circular, the Customs-EDI (electronic data interchange) and plant quarantine clearances were done at the Guwahati Airport before exporting the products, the official said.

Moreover, being the first to get EDI connectivity, the products need not have to go to other airports for Customs clearance, it said.

Read More | Ola continues to expand across the UK, now services in England

“With the Customs- EDI clearance right here at the Guwahati Airport, with AAICLAS (an AAI subsidiary) & customs dept, the farmers & exporters don’t have to go anywhere else, they can now send their products from Guwahati to any part of the globe through Air Cargo. The facility is available round the clock at the cargo station,” Kamra said.

Sonar Bangla, a Kolkata-based export company, in collaboration with local exporter Kiega Exim Private Limited, Guwahati completed the consignment, it said.

In October this year, flat beans, brinjal and radish sourced from Assam were sent to London and Doha through Guwahati Airport Air Cargo.

According to the official report, the initiative will increase farmers’ income in the area and help improve livelihood.

(With inputs from agencies)