From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: “North East (NE) is an important part of the country, which deserves more importance. The NE states should focus on three initiatives for improvement – infrastructure, information system & innovation. The NE states have human capacity and potential. They should take more responsibility and initiative, demand more and do more. Government is there to help”, said Sam Pitroda, Advisor to PM on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, Planning Commission, Government of India. He was delivering the keynote address at the concluding session of the two-day 8th North East Business Summit organized by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on Thursday.
“We hope that as India and the ASEAN look forward to a speedy implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, the North-Eastern states will successfully capture the growing synergies of improved trade and investment linkages and will emerge as an international trade hub for the Asian Union”, said Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General of the ICC.
He said connectivity and infrastructure needed be developed at a fast pace in the North East, to make gainful use of its advantageous position. While the Government both at the Centre and the States have made tireless efforts towards the same, given the volume of investments required private intervention is strictly called for to achieve the targeted capacity.
Mr Hun Kim, Country Director – India, Asian Development Bank, highlighted ADB’s various initiatives and activities for boosting up infrastructure in the North-East, and shared his vision for the region’s future infrastructural developments.
Commenting that trade agreements like India-ASEAN have deeper implications for the North-East, Mr. Kim added that it is heartening to note that there are several proposals under consideration with regard to land and sea connectivity.
These include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway, its extension to Laos and Cambodia and the development of a new highway also linking Vietnam. The ADB will actively engage with the North-Eastern states to boost infrastructural links with the neighbouring countries, he assured.
The two-day Summit had focused Sessions on critical sectors & issues including – Infrastructure & Connectivity through PPPs; Exclusive Investors’ Meet with DoNer Minister & NE Industry Ministers; Border Trade; Tourism & Hospitality opportunities; Oil & Gas; Horticulture & Food Processing; Education & Skill Development; Financial Inclusion, etc.
The Exclusive ICC NDTV Profit Panel Discussion on “Agenda for North East: Taking Quantum Leap” raised meaningful deliberations revolving around issues like – capacity building both in terms of labour and capital in the region; ICT Roadmap for the NER ; Review of the NEIIPP 2007 ; current status of the various Infrastructure projects in the region, etc.