Chennai: Union minister of state for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated that the Centre is taking constructive steps to resolve Finnish handset maker — Nokia — and Foxconn issues in the interest of the employees.
“We are looking at all the constructive steps that can be taken to help the situation. We want workers to get justice,” she said in an informal chat with reporters here on Sunday.
On November 1 last year, the company suspended mobile handset production at the Sriperumbudur plant which directly employed 8,000 workers. The company had been wrestling with taxation and legal issues.
She also informed that the European Commission (EC) had lifted the ban on import of Indian mangoes and this would augur well on the export front. India exported mangoes to the EU valued at $10.09 million in 2013 and $6.73 million in 2012.
Earlier, inaugurating Reticon — vitreo retinal symposium, here on Sunday under the aegis of Dr Agarwal’s eye hospital, for the benefit of vitreo-retinal specialists, ophthalmologists and students, she said Tamil Nadu is a forerunner in healthcare, especially ophthalmology.
Stating that Indian expertise was most sought after abroad, she said many African countries, some European nations besides southeast Asian countries appreciate Indian expertise in healthcare and medical practice including eyecare.
“They are looking for India to be able to come over with their manpower, investment, technology and their hospital-running experience to come and establish hospitals for them,” she said.
Referring to the recent bilateral talks, she said ministers representing several countries had evinced interest in Indian super-specialists in various disciplines including nephrology and ophthalmology.
Prof Amar Agarwal, CMD, Dr Agarwal’s group of eye hospitals, said diabetes, hypertension and renal diseases affected the retina causing decreased vision. He underscored the importance of diabetics to regularly undergo retina check-up to save their vision.
