BHUBANESWAR:Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday sought an appointment with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss trade opportunities with member countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in food and marine products.
Dashing off his second letter to the Chief Minister after a fortnight on the same issue, Pradhan said, “I have written several letters to you on different issues in the last few years, but I have not received a single reply from you. While my letters were treated with derision, I have been humiliated and ridiculed by your colleagues.”
“I fail to understand what vicarious pleasure they derive by calling me names such as post peon and Bihari. I am least affected by such humiliation. My only request to you is that your government’s animosity towards me should not come in the way of the State’s progress and in realising opportunities for coming generations,” the letter said.
Recalling his experience during the recent visit to UAE and his discussions with prominent business groups having significant presence in food and beverage trade, the Union Minister said many of them are interested to scan Odisha market for possible investments in these sectors.
Noting that he had made a strong case about the comparative advantages of Odisha in the areas like infrastructure, agriculture, food and marine products during his recent meeting with UAE invertors in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Pradhan said he had made a special reference to the Paradip Port which has the potential to emerge as a food processing hub for GCC countries.
He further said various products of the State such as non Basmati aromatic rice from western Odisha, marine products from Chilika, mangoes, exotic flowers, turmeric from Kandhamal, ginger from Koraput can be exported to the GCC countries to double the income of farmers as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Minister expressed his anguish to the Chief Minister for not granting permission to meet Chief Secretary AP Padhi for a discussion with him on the issue.
Seeking an appointment with the Chief Minister, Pradhan said, “Give me an opportunity to apprise you about my efforts to rope in overseas investors in the “Make in Odisha “ conclave to be held this year.” Expecting a reply this time, Pradhan urged the Chief Minister to treat his letter properly by not throwing into the dustbin.