Manufacturing drive underway in northeastern India
An initiative to increase job opportunities in the northeastern states of India has kicked off with the inauguration of the first two ready-made ‘Apparel and Garment Making Centres’ (AGMCs).
Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar opened the first AGMC in Nagaland on April 6 before travelling to Tripura three days later to open a similar project on the Bodhjungnagar industrial estate.
India’s textile ministry aims to provide Rs.18 crore ($2.7 million) to set up an AGMC in each of the country’s eight northeastern states, whilst also providing financial support after each development has been commissioned.
Alongside Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Mr Gangwar emphasised the importance of encouraging people to remain in the northeast of the country through the creation of jobs.
"Each AGMC would provide employment to 1,200 to 1,500 people in the respective states. The ready-made apparel and various other clothing have a huge market in northeast India, other parts of the country, neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh,” he said.
