By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has stressed on the need to open up more border haats and to develop trade routes through inland waterways between the North East and Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister’s statement came during the North East India-Bangladesh Business Conclave at the 3rd Indo-Bangla Trade Fair, 2012 in Dhaka which was organized by the Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IBCCI) on Thursday.
Dr Sangma also emphasized on the need for road connectivity from Dhubri via the southern slopes of Meghalaya to Tripura and to Bangladesh which would help to boost trade and commerce in the region.
Dr Sangma, during his interaction with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, also stated that there should be more trust through social interaction between the citizens of Bangladesh and the North Eastern states.
The conclave was also attended by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Tripura Industry Minister Jitendra Chaudhury, Assam PHE Minister Gautam Roy,
Pankaj Saran, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, MK Saharia, Chairman, ICC-NER, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President, IBCCI, Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC, and other senior State Government representatives from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Assam.
The visiting Indian delegation also met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where Dr Sangma informed about the recent steps taken by the Government of India and Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation between the two countries which would go a long way towards reviving the age old ties between the people of Bangladesh and the North East.
The meeting also dwelt on the tourism potential and for promotion of tourism jointly by Bangladesh and the North Eastern States including Bhutan.
The Chief Minister also proposed to organize a conclave of tour operators of Bangladesh and North Eastern States at Shillong.
He also stressed on opening of the Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati bus service which, he said, would go a long way towards developing tourism in the region.
The Chief Minister further suggested that joint ventures in the field of thermal power generation/ power transmission and new technologies in bamboo-based projects may be explored for the development and benefit of both the countries.