In a big boost to ‘Act East Policy’, Assam Petrochemical Plant started exporting methanol to Bangladesh

In a big push towards establishing Assam as a major exporter of petrochemicals, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on 1st July flagged off the first methanol consignment to Bangladesh from Assam Petrochemicals Plant, Namrup in Dibrugarh district.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 500 TPD plant of APL on April 14, 2023, and the plant has started producing methanol. He felt happy to inaugurate the process of transporting the methanol produced in APL to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. This will help the government to establish Assam as a petrochemical hub. With this development, along with exporting its products to foreign countries, the financial health of APL will also be strengthened, the Chief Minister added.

CM Sarma said that to strengthen Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Ltd (BVFCL), the central government helped the company with Rs. 100 crores and the State government helped it with the construction of the hospital. He said that contrary to Rs. 98 crore loss incurred by the BVFCL last year, the company registered a profit of Rs. 12 this year which indicated a positive development towards empowering Namrup as an industrial town.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation for the development of Joypur Chariali and Namrup Sonari Tiniali roads to facilitate the movement of industrial outputs from Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited, Assam Petrochemicals Limited and Namrup Thermal Plant.

Reiterating his commitment to the development of Naharkatia, the Chief Minister said that steps have been taken for the construction of a road from Joypur Chariali to Dillighat. The width of the road has been broadened from the existing 5.50 metres to 7 metres. Moreover, in Namrup along the roads, there will be concrete drains.

The Chief Minister said that to strengthen the edifice of Atma Nirbhar Assam, the State government will give Rs. 10 thousand to each of the 3.70 members of self-help groups. If the members successfully can take entrepreneurial steps using the amount, they will become entitled to take bank loans amounting to Rs. 25000, the interest of which will be borne by the government.

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli, Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Bora, MLAs Prasanta Phukan, Taranga Gogoi, Terosh Gowala, Chairman APL Rajneesh Gogoi, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.