US Consul General in Kolkata Craig Hall was of the view that better connectivity in the North-east will benefit the economy of the region and the country as a whole.
Hall, along with the US Embassy’s Defense Attaché Brigadier General David E Brigham, was in Shillong on Wednesday.
They had separate meaningful discussions with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and senior officials of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
During the meeting with the chief minister, the delegates discussed about rail connectivity to Shillong and increasing the number of flights to and from the State.
Emphasizing on the need for improving connectivity for the state’s economy to grow, Hall said after the meeting that the ‘US business is coming to India but it’s going to other parts of the country and the US government does not direct private companies as to where they should invest in India’.
“It is the state which has to attract private capital,” Hall added during an interaction with the media after the meeting.
Hall further said that East and South East Asia would benefit from Indian influence and inner action.
The team will also visit Guwahati.
The Brigadier General is on his first ‘familiarization trip’ to the north-eastern region and the visit is a continuation of the US government and Consulate General Kolkata’s efforts to ‘build sustained engagement’ in the North-east.