Leather and apparel sectors can generate employment opportunities: Amit Mitra

Kolkata: The state Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) department is keen to create a value chain to facilitate the small and medium businessmen in retailing their products.

"The problem lies in their inability to retail their manufactured products in a proper manner. We are trying to develop the value chain so that they can get to showcase and retail their products," said Finance and Industry minister Amit Mitra who also holds the charge of MSME and Textiles department. Citing an example, he said the state is coming up with a garment park spanning over an area of nine lakh square feet at Nangi in South 24-Parganas to boost the ready-made garment industry in the state. "Those associated with the garment business and its allied sectors in Metiabruz, can showcase and retail their products easily through the garment park," Mitra maintained while addressing the inaugural programme of 17th India International Mega Trade Fair (IITMF) jointly organised by The Bengal Chamber and GS Marketing at Science City Grounds. The government holds meetings directly with stakeholders from time to time so that the infrastructure turns beneficial for the businessmen.

Mitra further reiterated: "Leather and apparel are two important sectors which can generate opportunities. We are coming up with new parks both in the government and private sector for job creation. 20 lakh people are already employed in the textile sector and in the next few years, it will go up to at least 30 lakhs with these parks being operational."

The state government is coming up with eight government parks and six are being done in the private sector which includes a hosiery park at Jagadishpur, Howrah; apparel hub at Mahisbathan, Salt Lake; SME industrial park at Ankurhati, Howrah; Kona Integrated Textile Park in Howrah and Barasat Garments Park in two phases. "The phase I is already complete and is employing around 15,000 people. The Phase II will have employment for around 20,000," the minister added.

Debjyoti Das, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax department, was also present at the event. A taxpayers' lounge is being set up by the Income Tax Department at the fair for fostering public awareness regarding various services provided by the Income Tax Department to the taxpayers and also to educate them for ensuring better compliance of Direct Tax Laws. The facility also seeks to create a bond between the department and school-going children/students and youth who are future taxpayers. The various facilities usually provided would include: Apply for PAN, Aadhar-PAN linking and PAN related queries, e-filing and Form 26AS related queries, availability of services of TRPs, free of cost and the like.