Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurated the unit at western Tripura's Bodhjungnagar industrial estate, 20 km north of here.

The textile ministry has been providing Rs.18 crore for setting up of a ready-made garment manufacturing unit or 'Apparel and Garment Making Centre' (AGMC) in each of the eight northeastern states. It would also provide financial assistance to run the unit after its commissioning.

The first AGMC was inaugurated by Gangwar in Nagaland on Wednesday.

"Each AGMC would provide employment to 1,200 to 1,500 people in the respective states," Gangwar said adding that the government is trying to stop people from northeast India to go to other parts of the country seeking jobs.

"The readymade apparel and various other clothing have huge market in northeast India, other parts of the country, neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh," he said.

Sarkar, in his speech, said that the Tripura government has enlarged the incentives to boost the small and medium industries in the state.

"Soft loans have been provided to self-help groups (SHGs) at the rate of 4 percent from the state government-owned Cooperative Bank. This rate of interest would be further slashed to 3.5 percent soon.

"After getting benefit from the state government, so far 8,000 SHGs become self-reliant and producing lots of attractive and useful products," he added.

Tripura Industries and Finance Minister Tapan Chakraborty, assembly Deputy Speaker Pabitra Kar, Chief Secretary Y.P.Singh, union Textiles Secretary Rashmi Verma and Industries and Commerce Secretary M.Nagaraju were also present at the inaugural ceremony.