While presiding over the meeting with the Excise Licensees at Vipasha Sadan in Mandi today, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the main thrust of the State Government was to increase revenue through excise tax collection.Chief Minister said that the State Government had fixed a target of Rs 1425 crore during the last financial year against which the State succeeded to collect Rs 1500 crore excise tax. He said that for the current financial year target has been fixed to collect Rs 1625 crore excise tax, against which Rs 1800 crore excise tax has been collected, till date.Jai Ram Thakur said that stress should be laid on exploring the scope of using fruits in all wines which have potential to transform the economy of the horticulturalists. He said that the State Government would also explore possibilities for commercial production and patenting of Anguri and Chuli beverage of Kinnaur.Chief Minister assured the Licensees that the Government was open to their suggestions and would take appropriate steps in this direction. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Excise and Taxation Sanjay Kundu welcomed the Chief Minister and said that stress should be laid on production of wine based on fruits. He said that this would not only help strengthening the economy of the farmers, but would also provide quality wine to the consumers.Commissioner Excise and Taxation Ajay Sharma presented vote of thanks.Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma, MLAs Rakesh Jamwal, Vinod Kumar, Jawahar Thakur, Col. Inder Singh, Inder Singh Gandhi and Prakash Rana, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Rugved Thakur were present on the occasion among others.