Japan investing Rs 10,000 cr in North-East: Dr Jitendra

Union DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh being briefed by the Ambassador of Japan, Kenji Hiramatsu about Japanese collaboration in various development projects in Northeast, at New Delhi on Wednesday.
Union DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh being briefed by the Ambassador of Japan, Kenji Hiramatsu about Japanese collaboration in various development projects in Northeast, at New Delhi on Wednesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 26: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that Japan is investing over Rs10,000 crore in Northeast region in various infrastructure related projects.
Dr Singh said Ambassador of Japan to India, Kenji Hiramatsu called on him today in the Union capital here and discussed the status of these projects, which are coming up with the Japanese collaboration.
The Ambassador appreciated the cooperation received from the Modi Government in the last four years and the close personal follow-up by Dr Jitendra Singh in facilitating the Japanese engagement in the region.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Japan had a special affinity for the North- Eastern region of India because during the World War-II, it had lost several thousands of its soldiers fighting on the eastern borders. He recalled that over three years back, he had suggested to the Japanese authorities to enhance their cooperation and engagement in the region, and he was glad that Japan was now making a significant contribution, particularly in road and power sector, in different North Eastern States, especially Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and Nagaland.
The Japanese Ambassador gave a detailed presentation about the nine ongoing development projects in the North Eastern region which were supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in India. He further informed that the important projects supported by JICA in the North Eastern region included the Water supply and sewerage projects in Guwahati and a number of projects under three phases of the Northeast Connectivity Plan. He said, the JICA is also supporting three new projects including the Umian Umtru Hydro Power Stage-III Project in Meghalaya.
Another area which the Japanese authorities were exploring for investment was the Bamboo sector. Dr Jitendra Singh assured the Ambassador full cooperation from the Ministry of DoNER in facilitating the Japanese engagement in the North-Eastern region.