India seeks Thai cooperation in developing North East

Union Minister for Development of North East Region (DONER), Mani Shankar Aiyar, today sought cooperation of the Thai government in bringing fast economic development of the North East region of the country.Inaugurating the North East India Trade and Investment Opportunities Week, which is being jointly organized by his Ministry along with Commerce Ministry and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Aiyar sought help from Thailand in developing infrastructure facilities in the region.

By Sanjay Kumar

Bangkok, Oct 1 : Union Minister for Development of North East Region (DONER), Mani Shankar Aiyar, today sought cooperation of the Thai government in bringing fast economic development of the North East region of the country.Inaugurating the "North East India Trade and Investment Opportunities Week," which is being jointly organized by his Ministry along with Commerce Ministry and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Aiyar sought help from Thailand in developing infrastructure facilities in the region.

He said the Central Government is spending billions of dollars in roads, railways, power in the region but the "constraint is the absorptive capacity".

"In partnership with Thailand we will be able to develop absorptive capacity of the region," he added.

Thai Commerce Minister, Krirk -Krai Jirapaet, who was the chief guest at the business meet showed keen interest in visiting the North East.

In April, the Thai Minister had visited Assam, Tripura and Meghalya to explore business opportunities.

Underlining Thailand's commitment to complete the trilateral road project with Myanmar, Jirapaet said that due to political uncertainty in Myanmar the project is getting delayed but "ideally he would like to finish the project".

Addressing the conference the Minister of State for Industry, Ashwini Kumar welcomed the initiative taken to bring the North East to the centre stage of the economic development.

Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio also welcomed the attempt by the Ministry of DONER to bring the region on the map of the global economy.

This is for the first time when around two hundred Indian delegates are participating in a business meet in a foreign country.

Five out of eight Chief Ministers of the North East States are attending the four-day conference.

Assam, Sikkim and Tripura are being represented by their senior Cabinet Ministers.

India is seeking investment from Thailand in various sectors that include infrastructure, energy, food processing, tourism and hospitality, handloom and handicrafts, rubber and bamboo.

Investment week is a follow up of the Third North-East Business Summit held in New Delhi, which was attended by over 1000 delegates from India and abroad.

External Affairs Ministry will be holding a high-level meeting on the " Look East Policy in New Delhi on the October 15 which will be attended by Defence Minister A K Antony, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and DONER Minister, Aiyar.

ANI