Port Blair, Jan. 20: The valedictory of Advance Training Programme on Jute Shopping Bags of two weeks duration organised by Jute Service Centre-Port Blair (JSC-PB) in collaboration with A & N Consultancy Centre (ANCON), Port Blair was held at the Parish Hall of St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Goal Ghar on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Er. Mohd. Pervaiz, GM, ANIIDCO, Port Blair, the Chief Guest of the occasion appreciated the efforts of JSC-PB for taking up the initiative of organizing the programme. He informed the trainees that A & N Islands and especially Port Blair is attracting hordes of tourists from main land India and also from abroad. In order to cater to the demand from tourists for Souvenir from the islands, ANIIDCO has off late developed a Souvenir Marketing Centre. The Souvenir Marketing Centre sells items like T-shirts, Coffee Mugs, local handicrafts, jute bags etc. which bears a symbol of the islands. The tourist are interested to carry back with them some memories of the place they have visited and they usually select articles which relate to the place they have just visited. The trainees may also develop jute bags and related items containing local touch, symbol, painting etc. which can be displayed in the Souvenir Marketing Centre for sell to tourists. For development in any field skill development is a must and since the trainees have already learned the skill they can take up the work by availing of the loan from ANIIDCO or PMEGP loan from DIC or KVIB or simple direct bank loan. All types of support required to set up a self employment venture can be provided by the agencies like Directorate of Industries, DIC, KVIB, ANIIDCO, ANCON etc., the GM ANIIDCO said.

Er. Johnson Abraham, JSC-PB in charge informed the gathering that this batch of trainees had initially undergone a three week basic training programme in which they were taught how to make simple Jute Shopping Bags and in this two week advance training programme, they have learned about manufacture of Advanced Jute Shopping Bags following the conclusion of this programme they will be given one week training inputs on Jute Designer Bags. Post training ANCON will assist the trainees in formation of SHGs, preparation of Project Report, assistance in availing loan, help in procurement of machineries and raw materials and guidance in marketing the products.

Among the others who spoke on the occasion were Smt. Rosie Dass, Manager, DIC and Shri A. K. Bhattacharjee, Advisor, ANCON. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Shri Saikat Chakraborty, Associate Consultant, ANCON.