India's North-East Region Likely to Emerge Gateway of Trade With S.E. Asia
July 18, 1999 - 0:0
NEW DELHI India's North-East Region is likely to become the hub of trade following the government's plan to use the region as a gateway for trade with the South East Asian countries. India's Commerce Ministry has given the nod to an action plan for the promotion of exports from the north-east submitted by the Assam State Government, a leading state out of the seven states of the north east region.
The Assam government has already identified "key routes" for business with countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Mynmar, China, besides other parts of South East Asia. It has also sought financial support from the central government to build up the infrastructure. "The response from the commerce ministry was positive and we hope New Delhi will grant necessary financial support to build up the infrastructure and completing formalities with the neighboring countries for opening up of business", Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta told IRNA yesterday.
It is hoped that promotion of exports from this region would greatly boost the region's economy which is one of the poorest regions of India. "Expansion of international trade would bring about an economic revolution in the northeastern states and the region could well become the gateway to leading business centers of South East Asia", Mahanta said. Automobile spare parts, fruits, foodgrains, vegetables, textiles and cotton yarn are the items which are in great demand in almost all the neighboring countries, while Indian traders are generally interested in foreign good like electronic gadgets, synthetic blankets, teak, gold, and ruby.
A number of South Asian trade and commerce bodies have also advocated the opening up of border trade with the India's north east saying such business would benefit those countries as well. "Already there are roads linking Bangladesh to Assam and Meghalya, besides we have the famous World War-II Stilwell Road, linking the northeast with China, via Mynmar. All we need to do is to build up the requisite infrastructure and improve the roads and in no time we can resume border trade very effectively," Assam Transport Minister, Pradeep Hazarika, said.
(IRNA)
The Assam government has already identified "key routes" for business with countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Mynmar, China, besides other parts of South East Asia. It has also sought financial support from the central government to build up the infrastructure. "The response from the commerce ministry was positive and we hope New Delhi will grant necessary financial support to build up the infrastructure and completing formalities with the neighboring countries for opening up of business", Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta told IRNA yesterday.
It is hoped that promotion of exports from this region would greatly boost the region's economy which is one of the poorest regions of India. "Expansion of international trade would bring about an economic revolution in the northeastern states and the region could well become the gateway to leading business centers of South East Asia", Mahanta said. Automobile spare parts, fruits, foodgrains, vegetables, textiles and cotton yarn are the items which are in great demand in almost all the neighboring countries, while Indian traders are generally interested in foreign good like electronic gadgets, synthetic blankets, teak, gold, and ruby.
A number of South Asian trade and commerce bodies have also advocated the opening up of border trade with the India's north east saying such business would benefit those countries as well. "Already there are roads linking Bangladesh to Assam and Meghalya, besides we have the famous World War-II Stilwell Road, linking the northeast with China, via Mynmar. All we need to do is to build up the requisite infrastructure and improve the roads and in no time we can resume border trade very effectively," Assam Transport Minister, Pradeep Hazarika, said.
(IRNA)