From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Naturally rich Northeast which is by and large peaceful is much better and safer place for business, trade and industry today than it was even half a decade ago, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said on Friday.
Addressing the 7th Northeast Business summit here, Dr Sangma said that the beautiful region has everything an investor would like in any other part of the country and even many unique things which no other region has. Tourism, horticulture, IT, education and health services are some of the key sectors which can attract huge investment in the region he said.
Giving specific examples, Dr Sangma mentioned that investors can really benefit from tourism as the Meghalaya boasts of one of the best hill stations in the World. Agro and Food Processing and Horticulture represent other critical areas where Meghalaya can provide lucrative opportunities for profitable investment, he said.
The State’s environment is suitable for growing pineapples and oranges used for developing honey, popularly referred to as Orange Honey across the world, he said.
The State has already become an educational hub and with high literacy rate amongst its women it has the potential to take a lead in the Nursing industry, he added.
Meghalaya would also go for unique tourism sports like bungee jumping, para gliding, caving, the Chief Minster said. Agreeing with the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the insurgency situation in the region is much better than some years ago.
“Most of the insurgent outfits have either surrendered or talking with the Government for a negotiated settlement,” Chidambaram said, adding that there were only pockets of violence, that too, in states like Manipur and Assam which will also be tackled by the state governments with the help of the Centre. However, extortion by anti-social elements has become a menace which the states must take care of, he added.
Summit Chairman and DoNER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar said that India has reached a new peak in its mutually cooperative bi-lateral relations with Bangladesh and relations with Myanmar have also improved remarkably over the years. It is high time to leverage on the cooperative relations to enhance cross border trade flows, a critical factor in ensuring a holistic development for the Northeast, he said.
While presenting his address Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi mentioned that the State Government has taken the lead in restoring peace in the region. Committed initiatives have led to significant reduction in violence in the State so much so that land prices in the State in the past decade have gone through the roof.
The prestigious Summit, now in its 7th year, is the largest trade and investment Conference cum Exposition on India’s Northeast region. Several delegates from Bangladesh and Bhutan also participated in the meeting. It is claimed that with the Chamber’s efforts in projecting the Northeast as a prospective trade and investment hub through these committed and focused initiatives organized over the years have helped the region already garner around Rs 12,000 crore worth of investments till date.
The Summit will have focused sessions on strategic areas like Meeting NE India’s Infrastructure Needs with Public Private Partnerships; Opportunities in the Tourism & Hospitality Sector; Opportunities & Constraints of Border Trade; Agro & Food Processing: Action Agenda; Developing e-governance, Telecommunication, Telemedicine services in NE region during the two day event. There will be a high-profile Industry Ministers’ Forum, which will deliberate on how the North-East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) 2007 is benefiting the Industry in the region, and whether the Policy needs further amendments or not.
The Summit will also have an exhibition of the North-East region wherein all the States will display their indigenous products, and showcase their comparative advantages to investors.