Interactive Meeting with Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Civil Aviation and Commerce and Industry, Government of India at North Malabar Chamber of Commerce at Bekal, Kerala
Kerala: P B Abdul Hameed, President, Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mangaluru, Isaac Vas, Vice-President, Prashant C G, Secretary, and Praveen Kumar Bangera, Director have attended the Interactive Meeting with Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Civil Aviation and Commerce & Industry, Government of India organised by North Chamber of Commerce at Bekal, today, the 10th of December, 2018 and discussed with him the various issues of PPP and other issues of Mangalore International Airport, misuse of SAFTA provisions by Sri Lanka and issues of 1.5 Market Fee / Cess on agricultural produces.
[Photograph shows (Sitting L to R) Sri Prashant C.G., Hon. Secretary, KCCI, Sri P. B. Abdul Hameed, President, KCCI, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Civil Aviation and Commerce & Industry, Sri Tulasidas, managing Director of Kannur International Airport and Sri Praveen Kumar Bangera, Director of KCCI, Mangaluru. (Standing are Office bearers and Members of the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce and Officials of the Kannur International Airport.]
He also enlightened the Minister that Pepper from Vietnam is being routed through Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan authorities are issuing Certificate of Country of Origin to this product as their Country which has duty benefits under SAFTA as Sri Lanka is a SAARC country. This duty exemption is affecting Indian Farmers who are not getting the right price for their agricultural produces.
The State Government through APMC is leving 1.5% of Market Fee / Cess on agricultural produces. Our neighbouring States are not leving Market Fee / Cess on agricultural produces. This is a burden on our Farm produces.
The KCCI President also appealed to the Hon’ble Minister to direct the concerned Authority / Department to enlighten KCCI regarding the progress of KCCI proposals for infrastructural development like Pals (Precision Approach Lighting System) and extension of Runway towards the North of Old Airport etc.
The Minister gave a patient hearing to the Chamber President and others and assured them of attending to the issues raised by them and do the needful.