NE seeing dawn of new hopes: MoS RK Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service / PIB
Imphal, December 08 2022:
"North East region is seeing the dawn of new hopes and opportunities for becoming the manufacturing hub of the country under PM Gati Shakti with world class seamless multimodal connectivity being implemented," Union minister of state of external affairs Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said, while emphasising on creating a sound logistic infrastructure in NE.
Addressing the first ever Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) North East Logistics Conclave held in Guwahati organised by CII in association with DPIIT on Wednesday, the Union minister mentioned that the PM Gati Shakti would ensure world class seamless multimodal connectivity providing complete information on resources, manpower and infrastructure projects in the NE.
He elaborated that this would bring down cost overruns for the infrastructure project being implemented which would track timely implementation.
PM Gati Shakti would also provide access to difficult areas in the NE through technological intervention arid policy initiative giving and a massive boost to the 200 billion logistics economy in the region, he noted.
RK Ranjan mentioned that PM Modi has identified 55 central ministries to spent 10 per cent of their budget for improving logistics infrastructure in NE.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working very closely with Bangladesh to improve rail, air, road and water connectivity.
The speedy implementation of this project connecting NE and Bangladesh would be path breaking in the region and will contribute to India's economy immensely, he further observed.
On the other hand, Assam industries and commerce minister Bimal Bohra mentioned that PM Gati Shakti will accelerate the project of peace and development in the region.
Assam is proposing to set up the second logistics part at Silchar after Jogigopa, he revealed.
Assam is also the only state in the country with dedicated logistics department headed by a secretary.
The government has already earmarked 15 per cent of the land for logistics development.
Assam with its locational advantage is well poised to become the logistics hub for the country and a gateway to Southeast Asian countries, he stated.
Similarly, Tripura industries and commerce minister Santana Chakma stated that Tripura has been identified as the first mover state in terms implementing logistics policy.
She mentioned that the state is coming up with the Logistics Policy soon.
An amount of Rs 35 crore has been sanctioned for infrastructure for industrial estates and infrastructure state logistics under state action plan.
In his address, Assam Rifles director general Lt general PC Nair expressed that the Assam Rifles is hopeful that the VAHAN app will help in tracking the vehicular movements across the borders of the NE, which in turn would help to address the security concerns of the region.
Earlier, CII president designate & TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited executive vice chairman R Dinesh reiterated that the announcement of the PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy is likely to bring down the cost of doing business in the NE.
The region with a pool of educated youth can avail technology for reaching to global market.
The supply chain needs to be strengthened for the ease of doing business in the NE.
CII has been working closely with the centre for ensuring last mile connectivity in the region.
Several skill initiatives have been launched in the NE states for upgrading the skill set of the youths for the logistics supply chain, he pointed out.
The Conclave had the participation of over 200 delegates from governments of all the NE states, industry and public sector enterprises.