Conrad for improved connectivity of NE with neighbouring countries

Shillong (Meghalaya), Aug 17, 2018:

A two-day seminar under the aegis of the Asian Confluence began here on Friday.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma highlighted the need for improved connectivity with the neighbouring countries for transformative growth of the region.

“Most of the North-eastern States share their borders with the neighbouring countries and therein lay a huge opportunity for developing trade and economic growth, which will be mutually beneficial to the region, our country as well as the neighbouring countries,” he remarked.

Terming tourism as a sector with immense potential for employment generation and economic growth, the Chief Minister also stressed developing infrastructure and facilities to improve tourist flow to the region.

Sangma also pushed for more cooperation in the agriculture and allied sectors and termed digital connectivity as an enabling factor for transformation of the region.

“Digital connectivity will lead to faster and more efficient market linkages,” he added

The seminar in progress will be a platform to discuss the emerging insights from an ongoing study being conducted by the Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Asia Foundation that focuses on ways and means to connect the Border States and regions through interconnectedness of goods, services and people.

The study has identified three main pillars on which further discussions could be explored. They are tourism, creation of agri-horti value chains and enabling of sub-regional trade-tourism-transit hubs.

The roundtable hopes to share initial insights and ideas on these three pillars so as to invite inputs, critique and suggestions through discussions to come up with time-bound action agenda for each pillar and prioritise them based on opportunities, challenges and concerns as identified through discussions and deliberations on actionable for each pillar.