DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said that women from the state of the northeast have excelled in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and helped the region to emerge as a model of Corona management.
“This is a shining example of women emancipation and women empowerment,” Singh said.
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He was delivering the keynote address on Cross-border Conversations with entrepreneurs from ASEAN organized by India ASEAN Women’s Business Forum and FLO Mumbai chapter and FICCI.
“Even during the times of pandemic, women from the northeast took a lead and produced and distributed sanitizer and beautiful masks on a large scale,” he added.
Singh said that due to close business and cultural ties between India and ASEAN, the region will take a lead in the economic recovery in the post-Corona era.
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The DoNER minister said that the northeast has a special role to play in the promotion of trade and business relations with ASEAN as it is the gateway to the growing economies of South-East Asian nations.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the policy of “Look East” to “Act East” to take the bilateral cooperation to newer heights.
Referring to the connectivity issues, Dr Singh said that in the last six years, there has been a significant development in terms of Road, Rail and Air connectivity, helping facilitate the movement of goods and persons not only across the region but also across the country.
He recalled that the Indo-Bangladesh treaty for exchange of enclaves, which was accomplished under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, has cleared the decks for ease of business, ease of movement and ease of commuting, which was earlier a tedious task.
“Very soon we are also going to have a train to Bangladesh from Tripura heralding a new chapter and opening new vistas in the development of this region by providing the entire region access to the seaports,” he said.
The DoNER minister also underlined the continued focus of the Indian Government to explore the alternate modes of transport that is Inland Waterways (from the Brahmaputra to the Bay of Bengal) connecting with other countries of the region as a cheaper option for trade, business and transportation.
He said this will boost the trade across the borders especially with our eastern neighbours by leaps and bounds.
Dr Singh expressed hope that Bamboo will play a vital role in post-COVID economic recovery and India and ASEAN will join together to realize its full potential in all aspects of life.