Agartala, Jan 05, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Jan 5: Minister Tinku Roy inaugurated the 10th International Universal Expo Fair at the Agartala Children's Park on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering, Roy highlighted the significant progress of Tripura in the import-export ratio with Bangladesh over the last few years, prior to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh.

“The import-export ratio with Bangladesh during the 2018-19 financial year from Tripura was approximately Rs 450 crore in imports compared to just Rs 6 crore in exports. However, the scenario has drastically improved, as we are now exporting goods worth around Rs 250 crore,” he said.

The minister stated that this improvement reflects not only the development of Tripura’s financial system but also a substantial increase in production capacity across various sectors, including industry and agriculture. He also acknowledged the contributions of self-help groups actively producing a wide range of goods.

Roy emphasized the need for establishing robust market chains to connect Tripura’s locally manufactured products with external markets. He encouraged local businessmen to collaborate with external counterparts to strengthen these market chains and expand their reach.

The minister also highlighted the success of Agarwood export projects from the state and stressed the importance of focusing on the production and export of bamboo-based products from Tripura. He urged that locally produced bamboo items should take precedence over imports from outside the region.

The expo serves as a platform to showcase the potential of local industries, foster entrepreneurship and connect Tripura’s products to global markets.