As part of the Government of India’s nationwide campaign commemorating 12 Years of Governance, the Department of Commerce organised a press briefing in Guwahati today to highlight the key initiatives, achievements, and policy interventions of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Addressing the media, Ms. Kapil Chaudhary, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, spoke on the theme “FTAs and New Opportunities with Special Focus on Plantation and Forest Products,” highlighting the benefits of India’s Free Trade Agreements and the emerging opportunities they present for exporters, producers and stakeholders in the plantation and forest products sectors.
Ms. Chaudhary informed that India’s total export value stood at $863bn in 2025-26 which is significantly higher than the $468 bn in 2014-15, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.7%. She highlighted how the transformation in digital infrastructure of trade with platforms such as Trade Connect, Trade Intelligence & Analytics (TIA) portal, a sturdy grievance redressal system and overall Ease of Doing Business initiatives have assisted traders and exporters in the country.
The press briefing was also addressed by Shri M. Vasanthagesan, Executive Director, Rubber Board, who spoke on “The Opportunities and Challenges in the Rubber Sector in the North East Region and the Role of the Rubber Board.” He highlighted the immense potential for rubber cultivation in Assam and informed that the state ranks third in the country in rubber production after Kerala and Tripura.
Shri Vasanthagesan stated that the Rubber Board is focusing on both expansion of cultivation area and enhancement of productivity to bridge the demand-supply gap in natural rubber. He informed that rubber cultivation in the North Eastern region currently covers about 1.8 lakh hectares, of which nearly 50,000 hectares are located in Assam, underscoring the state’s growing importance in India’s rubber economy.
PRESS RELEASE