By Trishna Pegu Doley

Guwahati : In a bid to boost the growth of trade in the North Eastern markets and help Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, India’s largest air cargo operator, Spicejet has launched 14 new cargo flights to and from the region using its Bombardier Q400 freighters. The dedicated cargo flights will help transport fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, perishables, fish seeds, fresh fish, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, express cargo and other general cargo, besides improving logistics and connectivity.   The airline will operate daily cargo flights on Kolkata-Guwahati, Guwahati-Kolkata, Kolkata-Imphal and Imphal-Kolkata sectors. SpiceJet has also introduced cargo flights between Kolkata and Guwahati via Aizawl and Dimapur which will operate twice-a-week. The airline will also operate cargo flights on the Kolkata-Agartala and Agartala-Guwahati sectors thrice-a-week and twice-a-week on Kolkata-Silchar and Silchar-Guwahati routes.

Speaking in a programme held on the occasion in a city hotel today, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated SpiceJet for the initiative and said that it would immensely help and boost local business, trade, micro, small & medium enterprises and farmers. He said that farmers from the region can now transport their fresh farm produce across the country and internationally also. He also urged local businesses, traders, entrepreneurs to make use of this opportunity that provides the farmers access to markets not only within India but across the globe. The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been taking pro-active steps for giving a new boost to development in the region and the new cargo service by Spicejet would help in the efforts to fulfil his vision for transforming the north east as the growth engine of the country.

He said that there are more than 37 lakh farmer families in Assam who are dedicating themselves to become economically self-sufficient besides significantly contributing to the State’s economy. He observed that the farmers’ dream of doubling their income will get a renewed thrust with the launch of the cargo service.   Union Minister of State with independent charge for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri and Chairman cum Managing Director of Spicejet Ajay Singh joined the launching ceremony through virtual platform and delivered speech highlighting the new initiative. Industry & Commerce Minister of the Government of Assam Chandra Mohan Patowary also spoke on the occasion which was attended by MLA of Lahowal LAC Rituparna Baruah and Chief Marketing Officer of Spicejt Debojo Maharshi among others.