Centre may consider free trade zone proposal

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, FEB. 1. The Chief Minister Mr. P. Shanmugham, who returned from New Delhi today, said that he had persuaded the Union Finance Minister to approve of the Pondicherry Administration's proposal for a free trade zone.

He said this project would be of help to kindle import and export activities and generate employment. He said the Central Minister had promised to consider the proposal positively.

Mr. Shanmugham said the response on the part of various voluntary organisations, government staff and institutions had been overwhelming to the call to contribute liberally to the Gujarat Quake Relief Fund.

There had been contribution of materials also. The representatives of the Pondicherry unit of the All India Youth Federation presented Rs. 10,000 raised by its volunteers from the people by carrying hundis in important centres yesterday.

Mr. Shanmugham said the Regency Medical College at Yanam would depute on Saturday a team of 14 members including doctors carrying medicines and drugs for the quake-hit.

Doctors of orthopaedic, anaesthesiology and other departments would accompany the team which would be headed by the Chairman of the Pondicherry Transport and Tourism Development Corporation, Mr. Malladi Krishna Rao, he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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