By Our Special Correspondent
Shillong: A two-day conference on India-ASEAN Connectivity: Challenges and Opportunities for the Region kick-started on Monday evening at Pine Wood Hotel, with a keynote address from Secretary East, Ministry of External Affairs, Ambassador Anil Wadhwa.
Organised jointly by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) New Delhi, the Indian Chamber of Commerce and North Eastern Council this conference has brought together the ambassadors of Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, amongst others. Also present are representatives of chambers of commerce, industries, potential investors and scholars.
Wadhwa stressed on enhanced economic relations between India’s North Eastern region and South East Asia. “So far the role of North East India vis-a-vis trade with South East Asia is a paltry 0.01% of the 3% trade that Indian does with ASEAN,” Wadhwa said adding that air, land and sea connectivity and other supporting infrastructure was needed to boost trade and commerce between the North Eastern Region and South East Asia.
Wadhwa informed that steps had been taken to provide visas on arrival to visitors from the seven ASEAN countries. Efforts are also made to provide multiple entry visas and with longer duration to potential investors and tourists. He however stated that the North East has to bolster its power supply and mobile and internet connectivity and better developed border clearance infrastructure.
Wadhwa also pointed at the need to create a competitive investment regime and the involvement of international financial institutions.
Vice Chairman RIS, V.S. Sheshadri, in his special address spoke about the need to reconfigure border trade mechanisms so that normal trade is conducted through the borders. Sheshadri said the timely implementation of connectivity projects was important to turn the North East into an economically transformed and well connected region.
Roopen Roy, President Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) informed the gathering that a special cell – the Look East Council in the ICC is working tirelessly to come up with actionable strategies for connecting North East India to ASEAN. “ICC has been working on the theme –Development through Connectivity and we believe in digital leapfrogging as a way forward,” Roy said.
Indonesian Ambassador to India, Rizali Wilmar Indrakesuma stated that maritime connectivity is crucial for commercial and strategic interests. He stated that adequate investments should be made to create industrial zones and integrated infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile Secretary, North Eastern Council, Ameising Luikham felt that a think tank within the NEC for operationalising the Look East Policy is imperative. “We should reduce our dependency on the mainland and focus synergise and converge as a region to think of food production in a region that is so green,” Luikham stated.
He also added that NEC needed to be engaged more frequently by other ministries for better delivery. Stating that an economic corridor is more than a by-pass for transport Luikham said what was needed are special economic zones. He stressed on the need to build the capacities of people in the region so they can be engaged in processing and other entrepreneurship activities.