Guwahati: Assam Act East Policy Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Friday (February 16) attended the inaugural session of the “Act East through Northeast 2.0-The Round Table Conference on Inter Country Economic Corridor through North East of India for Inclusive Growth” in Assam’s Guwahati.
Building on the momentum of the previous successful conclave in 2022, the second phase of the roundtable conference, organised by the Assam Act East Policy Affairs Department, aims to explore the fresh opportunities presented by the Act East Policy for the northeast region.
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It also seeks to develop a strategic framework for enhancing economic and cultural connections with Southeast Asian countries, with a focus on bolstering bilateral relations with neighbouring Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The roundtable conference serves as a platform for the government officials, experts, practitioners and business leaders to explore the potential opportunities arising from the evolving connectivity among Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Assam.
In his keynote address, Minister Patowary said that the Act East Policy, under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has reinvigorated India’s engagement with its eastern neighbours, while the country’s relationships with Bangladesh and Bhutan have seen a new era of cooperation in areas of trade, transit and water resources management.
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“Assam and the northeast are witnessing rapid development in road infrastructure, regional airways connectivity, railways, waterways and shipping and internet connectivity. The Central government led by Prime Minister Modi has taken the region to high growth trajectory with the implementation of the Act East Policy and northeast is acting as India’s bridge with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Southeast Asia (SE) countries. The Assam government is deeply committed to harnessing these natural endowments and transforming the state into an economic hub. Our policies are focused on creating a business-friendly environment, facilitating ease of doing business and developing world-class infrastructure to attract domestic and international investors. Sectors such as agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, and tourism and information technology are ripe for investment, bolstered by a young, skilled workforce and supportive government policies,” Minister Patowary said.
Minister Patowary also highlighted how Assam and the northeast have been able to reap significant economic benefits due to closer ties with the Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal (BBN) and SE countries.
“The use of Chittagong and Mongla ports in Bangladesh will further strengthen waterways connectivity in the northeast and mutually benefit both countries. Bangladesh can take the opportunities of potential sectors of Assam like ethanol, methanol, plastic and hydrocarbon to improve trade and business,” Minister Patowary added.
The roundtable conference also featured a series of sessions, including special addresses by speakers including Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati Ruhul Amin and Secretary of Assam Act East Policy Affairs Department Manvendra Pratap Singh. Other notable speakers included Ambassador of India to Kingdom of Bhutan Sudhakar Dalela, Ambassador of India to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) CSR Ram and General Manager (GM), Construction of Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Railway) Satish Kumar Pandey, among others.
The event also marked the release of a pivotal report titled “Inter Country Economic Corridor through North East of India for Inclusive Growth: Potential and Prospects,” providing a roadmap for sustainable and inclusive development in the region through development of economic corridors in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal which passes through Assam.
During the daylong conference, various connectivity initiatives like a 58-kilometre rail link between Gelephu in Bhutan and Kokrajhar in Assam, riverine linkages with Bangladesh, various road and railway projects connecting the neighbouring countries were highlighted.
Detailed discussions were held on ways to use the evolving connectivity with neighbouring countries to create an economic corridor.