Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb called upon youths, in particular those who intend to make their future as entrepreneurs, to brace themselves adequately and properly to meet the opportunities and possibilities that would come flooding down within next two years in the state.
With the new geo –economic imperatives that would follow the completion of international trade hub in Sabroom and fast track upgradation of roads, National Highway and other communications within next two years, the entrepreneurs need to prepare them – systematically and mentally, the Chief Minister said in an interaction in his official chamber on Monday.
Biplab Kr Deb attached four most important things that the upcoming entrepreneurs must keep in mind, which he maintained of utmost importance, are trade license, insurance, Bank loan and GST. “And, then comes the mental preparation. We have to shed the age old inertia and psychological limitations to think big as far as business is concerned”. “No state can grow with government jobs only. For a whole round development and growth, trade and business are the key drivers”, Deb said. He listed the supports that the state government was giving for the entrepreneurs under Swanirbhar schemes for Atma Nirbhar Tripura.
“It is surprising that in Agartala there are 22,000 shops but only 8000 have trade licenses. We now are trying hard to ensure that all traders and entrepreneurs should get trade licenses and from October 1 till date about 24,000 licenses were already given in urban areas across the state while in rural areas the figure would stand at about 2,500”. The state government also abolished several stumbling blocks like the land owner’s certificates, guaranty etc. Now only Aadhar card would be enough and the application form was made of only one page. “No business can reach a respectable level without bank loan. Be it Tata, Ambani, or any big houses—they had all taken Bank loans. That would not only ensure white money use in the business but also help getting insurance easier way”, the Chief Minister said and added that banks were given instructions for easy bank loan for the upcoming entrepreneurs.
“There are other agencies like NABARD and there is also Swabalamban loans. There are subsidies too as much as 30 per cent. Besides, for loan now any contractual employee—even an Anganwadi staff can be a guarantor”. The Chief Minister also stressed on insurance as it would save the entrepreneurs from any accidental loss. “In fact the government will pay the first premium of Rs 1000 for the entrepreneur upto Rs 5 lakh insurance. There is also Prime Minister’s scheme for that”, Deb pointed out.
The Chief Minister also felt that all entrepreneurs should think big and should not limit their vision– In Tripura upto Rs 20 lakh was exempted from GST. “But we would appeal the intending entrepreneur to think beyond Rs 20 lakh and get their GST papers ready—as in the coming days the business scenario in the state will be wholly changed. The first requirement for preparedness in this regard is change in mentality”. To drive his point the Chief Minister said within next two years Tripura would be the focal point of international trades with SEZ, ICP, fully computerized railway freight services etc in Sabroom.
“Things are moving very fast with Chittagong port being open for us. Across the border, the road between Ramgarh to Viswa Road in Bangladesh is being upgraded with Indian finance and Delhi already sanctioned money for the project”. “Besides inside Tripura, the centre has sanctioned Rs 3200 crore for the NH from Churaibari to Agartala. If we include the fund sanctioned for land acquisition it stands at about Rs 5000 crore”, said the Chief Minister.
