Calls for opening up of intl border to provide fillip to NE economy
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma flagged off the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Friendship Motor Car Rally here on Thursday after the delegates of the event were given a warm reception at the State Convention Centre.
The International Motor Car Rally jointly organized by the Kalinga Motor Sports Club, Odisha in partnership with the counterpart clubs of the neighboring countries and the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, was flagged off from Bhubaneshwar on November 15 last and would culminate at Kolkata on December 2 after covering the state capitals of Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
The rally is aimed at highlighting connectivity in the subregion and possibility of seamless movement of vehicles across the borders through implementation of BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement, which will lead to economic integration of the region and help improve bilateral relations with the neighboring countries.
A total number of 77 delegates including three women are taking part in the rally. They are travelling in 20 SUVs. From Shillong, the delegates departed for Silchar.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the delegates for their endeavor saying, “Such kind of programme helps us to create stories of potentialities of the region making it easier for us to connect with the rest of the world”.
He was of the view that this rally should be made an annual event and added that the State Government would take it up with the Union Ministry for making this rally an annual affair.
Earlier, Sangma also advocated the need to open up long international borders for economic activities and growth and development of the region.
Addressing the delegates, the Chief Minister said that the Northeastern states have been engaging with the Government of India to take up the issues of trade facilitation and people to people contact across the borders with the neighboring countries.
Stating that the Northeastern states have been subjected to disadvantages for years due to presence of long international borders, he said, “It is time now to open up these borders in order to make them borders of economic activities for the growth and development of the region.”
Meanwhile, Minister in-charge Transport, H. D. R. Lyngdoh expressed hope that this kind of event will not only bring the region closer to the rest of the world but also boost the overall economic development of the region.
