Mangaluru, Jan 3: With regard to production of arecanut, concerns of arecanut growers will have to be looked at in a comprehensive fashion, rather than as a commodity or a product with health implications, said Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India Nirmala Sitharaman.
Interacting with media persons at a press conference here on Saturday, she assured that the ministry was taking steps to question those countries selling arecanut which do not grow it themselves and those which are exporting larger than their average production quantity. œAnother concern was when arecanut was getting clubbed together with prohibitory products like cigarettes, tobacco due to health considerations and faced being banned. But we are very clear that areca has had a role to play in our society and it is symbolic of certain sacredness, she said, adding that the interests of arecanut growers would be taken care of.
'Necessary for economy to revive'
On asked about the union government's rush to issue ordinances on FDI in the insurance sector, coal block allocation and amending the land acquisition Act, the minister said that the government was justified in bringing such reforms.
œBringing developmental reforms has to be in a hurry because the economy had been languishing for a long time. The Indian economy has been suffering from the past several years and it is because of policy paralysis of the previous government that it continues to linger at a poor performing rate. We were earlier facing continuous unabated inflation and there was lack of confidence in the economy. Unless we show the sense of hurry now, how long is the Indian economy going to wait? she questioned, adding that it was necessary for the economy to revive and jobs to be made available for the youth.
On bringing the country's first Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy, the minister said that the government was looking at forming a think-tank with the intention of forming such a policy. A draft policy has been submitted which is available in the public domain for people and specialists to give their inputs, and once the inputs come in, the policy will be re-structured before it is given for consideration to the Cabinet, she informed.
She clarified that that there were no applications for foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-branding retail so far.
She also informed that most of the work on foreign trade policy was complete and would be brought before the commencement of the next budget session of the union government.
œEvery step is being taken to ensure that the economic slump that this country has fallen into is no longer the case and the economy will be lifted. And as a result, it will generate better investments and sustain the momentum on growth but ensure that that growth will result in jobs, she said.
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