Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Northeast Business Summit here today, 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 said that Northeast holds the key to India’s future growth.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the years to come, Northeast will determine the magnitude of India’s growth in 21st century and added that he was saying so with definite scientific rationale. He said, Northeast is a region of unexplored potential and opportunities, and therefore, when all other avenues get exhausted in other parts of the country, Northeast will still have something more to offer for investment, business and trade.
In the last three years, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Modi Government has very diligently and consistently sought to improve the ancillary features which are essential for promotion of business and trade. For example, he said, for the first time after 70 years of independence, work has been started on Inland Waterways from river Brahmaputra down to the Bay of Bengal. This will not only serve as an alternative mode of transport but from the business point of view and cargo freight, fare etc, will cost four times lesser compared to conventional modes of transport like railway etc. At the same time, a double – gauge rail track network will be in place during next two years in all the States except Sikkim and this will be an added boost for business and trade activity, he added. Similarly, he said, the recently inaugurated Bhupendra Hazarika bridge has brought down the travel distance between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by over six hours or so.
All these recent developments are aimed in the direction of bringing about ease of business and investment, said Dr Jitendra Singh and added that hitherto untried modes like use of space technology and scientific interventions are also being used as supplements to promote and encourage investment.
Dr Jitendra Singh also disclosed that shortly, a union cabinet note will be brought about to remove “Bamboo” from the “Forest” list and designate it as a “grass” product, which will be a game – changer for trade in bamboo in diverse fields like manufacturing of paper, furniture, house construction etc.
To promote tourism and film shooting, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is a matter of pride that a Film and Television Institute on the lines of the Pune Institute is planned to be set up in Arunachal Pradesh. The upward trend in tourism is evident from the fact that in the last two years, tour operators even from South India have started including North Eastern destinations, particularly Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in their itinerary of package tours.
In the interest of the Government of India’s “Act East” policy also, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is essential to strengthen the trade potential of the areas proximal to eastern border of India.
Governor of Mizoram Lt. Gen Nirbhay Sharma, Manipur Industry Minister Biswajit Singh, Scientific Advisor to Government of India R Chidambaram, Secretary Foreign Affairs (East) Preeti Saran and Chairman Tea Board, P K Bezboruah also spoke during the inaugural session.
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