SHILLONG, April 12: Consul General of the US Consulate in Kolkata, Melinda M Pavek, who is on a weeklong visit to Meghalaya, met with a cross section of civil society representatives and academicians at Asian Confluence, Laitumkhrah on Monday.
Initiating the discussion, Executive Director of Asian Confluence, Sabyasachi Dutta highlighted the issues taken up by the Centre which he calls the third space — a space that is neither political nor governmental but allows intellectuals, thinkers, academicians and civil society to interface and present their views and engage with government, to add to the corpus of public policy and also with international governments.
“India’s Northeast can be seen as a global biodiversity and cultural diversity hotspot and a land bridge between South and South East Asia which include countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, ,Myanmar and China which are at proximity to the Bay of Bengal is of great strategic importance,” Dutta pointed out, adding that the role of connectivity (physical and psychological) via gateway states such as Meghalaya becomes paramount.
Dutta informed that Asian Confluence is implementing a project titled, “Building a Strong, Vibrant and Culturally Connected Indo-Pacific” in association with the US Consulate. Responding to Dutta’s overview of areas of cooperation between the US and India’s Northeast, Pavek said there are so many opportunities for collaboration with the Northeastern states in areas of health care, tourism, academic engagements, capacity building of entrepreneurs among others.
“With a free, open Indo-Pacific interconnectivity the US and India can build a prosperous, resilient and secure supply chain for export of agricultural products from the region and importing what the region is in need of, including pork, which is likely to happen this year although it has long been Americans.
Pavek said she had visited Nagaland last year for the Hornbill Festival and found stark similarities in the weaves, food habits and dances of the Nagas and the native Americans. She feels there is a huge scope for promoting tourism but only after some issues such as the Restricted Area Permit and the Inner Line Permit and other Visa hassles are ironed out. When asked if she had visited the Weiking Ground to witness the indigenous Khasi Festival Shad Suk Mynsiem, Pavek rued that she missed the opportunity as she was swamped with meetings but promised to return in November for the Nongkrem Dance.
The US Consulate, Kolkata team comprising Rakeeb Hossain, Assistant Political and Economic Affairs will be visiting Sohra and Nongriat to experience Meghalaya’s sights and sounds and the Living Root Bridge before they finally leave for Kolkata on Sunday.