Experts wants better trade tie up between NE and Southeast Asia
RATNADEEP CHOUDHURY
For proper harnessing of the much hyped 'look east' policy the Centre should give stress on opening of a road link between India's northeast and other Southeast Asian countries in order to boost trade and commerce. This proposal was made by experts across the Southeast Asian region who participated in a three-day international summit titled 'North East India - A gateway to Southeast Asia: Prospects for infrastructure development' in Agartala recently. The summit was jointly organised by the Institution of Engineers-India,Tripura Chapter and the Tripura government. Nearly 60 scientists, experts, technocrats, economists, administrators and policy makers from India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries participated in the meet.
The aim of the summit was to discuss the policy related issues mostly in terms of infrastructure development of Northeast region and on the possibilities of efficient trade and commerce links with the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. The summit also focused on the modalities of improving foreign investment in the Northeastern region. This summit acted as a common platform for experts of Northeast and rest of India to share their views with the experts of other Southeast Asian countries, thus making way to a fresh outlook on how the Centre should approach in order to improve the trade and commerce relations with the neighbouring countries. Various resolutions were taken in this regard. 'To establish faster and smooth connectivity, besides boosting trade and other economic activities, the trans-Asian highway must be used to connect northeast India with the Southeast Asian countries,' the summit said in a resolution.
The proposed 1,400 km-long trans-Asian highway is supposed to run from Moreh in Manipur and stretch up to Thailand at Mae Sot via the ancient city of Bagan in central Myanmar. This proposed trans-Asian highway actually existed long back. A major stretch of this highway was frequently used during the World War II. Now the road is not in use for decades and requires reconstruction. "We must not forget that northeast India used to be a busy hub of cultural and commercial activities some 2,000 years ago. After centuries of isolation and neglect, it is coming to life again as the principal gateway between India and two of the fastest growing regions of the world - Southeast Asia and East Asia," Lalit Mansingh, former Indian foreign secretary and former Indian ambassador to the US told reporters.
Experts felt that the need of the hour is to increase the volume of trade with Southeast Asia and keeping the geographical proximity of Northeast with Southeast Asia India should stress towards improving the communication infrastructure in NE region. "Asean (Association of South-East Asian Nations) and East Asia share a $500 billion market while India's current trading with Asean, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan accounts for just $50 billion, almost a quarter pf India's total trade so the volume of trade should go up. If the northeast receives even five percent share of this enormous market, the face of the region would change" Mansigh added.
The other eminent experts including senior transport specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) H. Iwasaki and Sri Lankan representative D.L. Taldena stressed the need for encouraging free trade arrangement with Southeast Asia and physical connectivity into south China and other parts of Southeast Asia through Myanmar and Thailand, during the course of their deliberation at the summit.
Addressing the summit , Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar felt that the 'Look East policy' will go on to boost the region's economy.
Meanwhile is another significant development, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to invest Rs50, 000 crore in the northeast region in the 11th Five Year Plan in order to improve road connectivity in the region.
"NHAI would invest Rs50,000 crore in the 11th Five Year Plan for augmenting capacity of high density corridors which would result in provision of improved four lane national highway link to all state capitals. The trans-Asian highways to connect north-east with Southeast Asian countries should be given priority" NHAI Director General S K Nirmal told reporters here. Nirmal, also attended the summit.
Experts also recommended for developing connectivity between Chittagong port in Bangladesh and Haldia port in West Bengal apart recommendations on rail links in entire NE region.
The need of the hour is more such summits in the entire region which would lead to more recommendations for proper implementation of 'Look East' policy.
RATNADEEP CHOUDHURY
For proper harnessing of the much hyped 'look east' policy the Centre should give stress on opening of a road link between India's northeast and other Southeast Asian countries in order to boost trade and commerce. This proposal was made by experts across the Southeast Asian region who participated in a three-day international summit titled 'North East India - A gateway to Southeast Asia: Prospects for infrastructure development' in Agartala recently. The summit was jointly organised by the Institution of Engineers-India,Tripura Chapter and the Tripura government. Nearly 60 scientists, experts, technocrats, economists, administrators and policy makers from India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries participated in the meet.
The aim of the summit was to discuss the policy related issues mostly in terms of infrastructure development of Northeast region and on the possibilities of efficient trade and commerce links with the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. The summit also focused on the modalities of improving foreign investment in the Northeastern region. This summit acted as a common platform for experts of Northeast and rest of India to share their views with the experts of other Southeast Asian countries, thus making way to a fresh outlook on how the Centre should approach in order to improve the trade and commerce relations with the neighbouring countries. Various resolutions were taken in this regard. 'To establish faster and smooth connectivity, besides boosting trade and other economic activities, the trans-Asian highway must be used to connect northeast India with the Southeast Asian countries,' the summit said in a resolution.
The proposed 1,400 km-long trans-Asian highway is supposed to run from Moreh in Manipur and stretch up to Thailand at Mae Sot via the ancient city of Bagan in central Myanmar. This proposed trans-Asian highway actually existed long back. A major stretch of this highway was frequently used during the World War II. Now the road is not in use for decades and requires reconstruction. "We must not forget that northeast India used to be a busy hub of cultural and commercial activities some 2,000 years ago. After centuries of isolation and neglect, it is coming to life again as the principal gateway between India and two of the fastest growing regions of the world - Southeast Asia and East Asia," Lalit Mansingh, former Indian foreign secretary and former Indian ambassador to the US told reporters.
Experts felt that the need of the hour is to increase the volume of trade with Southeast Asia and keeping the geographical proximity of Northeast with Southeast Asia India should stress towards improving the communication infrastructure in NE region. "Asean (Association of South-East Asian Nations) and East Asia share a $500 billion market while India's current trading with Asean, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan accounts for just $50 billion, almost a quarter pf India's total trade so the volume of trade should go up. If the northeast receives even five percent share of this enormous market, the face of the region would change" Mansigh added.
The other eminent experts including senior transport specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) H. Iwasaki and Sri Lankan representative D.L. Taldena stressed the need for encouraging free trade arrangement with Southeast Asia and physical connectivity into south China and other parts of Southeast Asia through Myanmar and Thailand, during the course of their deliberation at the summit.
Addressing the summit , Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar felt that the 'Look East policy' will go on to boost the region's economy.
Meanwhile is another significant development, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to invest Rs50, 000 crore in the northeast region in the 11th Five Year Plan in order to improve road connectivity in the region.
"NHAI would invest Rs50,000 crore in the 11th Five Year Plan for augmenting capacity of high density corridors which would result in provision of improved four lane national highway link to all state capitals. The trans-Asian highways to connect north-east with Southeast Asian countries should be given priority" NHAI Director General S K Nirmal told reporters here. Nirmal, also attended the summit.
Experts also recommended for developing connectivity between Chittagong port in Bangladesh and Haldia port in West Bengal apart recommendations on rail links in entire NE region.
The need of the hour is more such summits in the entire region which would lead to more recommendations for proper implementation of 'Look East' policy.
posted by Ratnadeep | 8:07 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home