NE States should have close ties with neighbouring countries: former Foreign Secy
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 23 2014:
Former Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and former Director General of Indian Council of World Affairs Sudhir T Devare has said that the northeastern states of India should develop close relations with the neighbouring countries in the light of the Look East Policy.
He was speaking to media persons at Hotel Imphal, North AOC here today in connection with an international conference to be organized by Department of Political Science, Manipur University from tomorrow in collaboration with the Association of Asia Scholars and Indian Council of Social Science on the theme "Northeast India in India's Look East Policy" .
Sudhir further said that the cordial relationship between India and Myanmar is a landmark development in the Look East Policy, and Myanmar is the gateway to other Southeast Asian countries.
A trilateral development for Indian, Myanmar and Thailand would be crucial in pushing the Look East Policy forward.
New policies and programmes concerning India's relations with other Southeast Asian countries can be expected from the new Government that would come up after the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, the former Foreign Secretary noted.
Sudhir also stated that a new division called "Development Partnership Administration" of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has been opened up to oversee the projects jointly taken up by India and its neighbouring countries.
The Look East Policy is now in its second phase and the northeastern states should play greater roles in such policy.
However, the economic condition of the northeastern states is poor as compared to other states.
All stakeholders should come together and deliberate on ways and means to enhance the economy of northeastern states, the former Foreign Secretary added.