Guwahati: Assam, a state known for its high-quality agarwood, is set to become a global hub for the commodity, following tea and oil, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said on Saturday while inaugurating the state’s first licensed manufacturing cum retail store for perfume and agar – MJI Perfumes in Guwahati.
The upcoming Agar International Trade Centre in Golaghat will promote and commercialize agarwood and its value-added products, encouraging entrepreneurship, expansion, and growth. The Chief Secretary called on the youth, particularly potential start-ups, to work together to achieve economic milestones in agarwood and expressed hope that tourists visiting Assam would return home with Assamese indigenous agar oil/perfume alongside traditional models.
The climate and landscape of Assam are ideal for agar tree plantation, with high demand in global markets, particularly the Middle East, due to its high-quality aroma. The domestic market for perfumes and agar is also growing, with the global agarwood chip market expected to reach $16.5 billion by 2034. However, international market restrictions on agar are expected to improve.
The agar industry faces challenges, with most processing units being small-scale operators and unorganized, concentrated in a few districts. The Industries and Commerce Department has introduced the Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy – 2020 to support agar cultivation and flourishing industries.
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