Itanagar, Jan 7: Expressing concern over the inhumane treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh, the Arunachal Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ACCI) has called attention to the rising number of  foreign brands, particularly Bangladeshi, being marketed in India and having growing impact on local traders and small businesses.
The brands, like PRAN-RFL Group (food and beverage products), Hatil and Otobi (furniture), Beximco Pharmaceuticals and Rahimafrooz Group products, have gained market access across the country, including NE India. While ACCI respects lawful international trade and regional cooperation, it emphasized that unregulated or excessive market penetration of such brands is creating unfair competition for local traders, MSMEs and indigenous entrepreneurs, especially in the sensitive border state of Arunachal Pradesh, and negatively affecting the local economy, it said in a statement.
“Local traders bear significantly higher costs of transportation and operational costs, making it extremely difficult to compete with low-priced imported goods. This situation directly affects local employment, traditional trades and undermines the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local,” ACCI President Tarh Nachung said.
Underscoring the strategic and economic sensitivity of this Himalayan state, he exhorted policymakers to adopt a region-specific approach while framing trade and market-access policy. However, he warned that unchecked inflow of foreign-branded products could weaken the fragile economic ecosystem of the NE region.
Moreover, there are a few distributors of the above brands in the state, who should forthwith surrender their licenses and the retailers should either sell or dispose of their stock of these brands within a week’s time. The ACCI team would conduct surprise checks in markets across the state soon and if any retailer or wholesaler is found with the stock they would face action, including recommendation for cancellation of licenses for adopting anti-consumer strategies, he warned.
The ACCI has demanded immediate review to regulate market access to foreign brand products into the 12 Himalayan states including Arunachal Pradesh. Strict monitoring of quality, pricing and statutory compliance of imported products and Policy protection and incentives for local traders, MSMEs, and indigenous manufacturers, were among its other demands.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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