Liberalization policy yet to benefit Manipur: Ibobi
Source: Manipur Mail
Imphal, December 22:
The bilateral relations with some of India's neighboring countries like Myanmar has improved due to the initiatives taken by the Ministry of External Affairs and the government is pleased O Ibobi said addressing the 50th meeting of the National Development Council held yesterday at the national capital.
Initiatives should be taken to enable the NE states to draw benefits from the trade with the South East Asian countries he said.
The country should continue to assist her neighbors to establish structural linkages with the bordering NE states he said.
He supported the target of 8% GDP.
The liberalization policy has channelised investment and other resources however the north east has yet to bore the fruits of the policy he pointed out.
It is due to weak administrative and physical infrastructure.
Infrastructure should be strengthened during the tenth plan and suitable mechanism evolved to direct investments to the under developed region.
The poor states can not take the benefits given under the special category states as matching share cannot be given he said.
Regarding trade and commerce with Bangladesh he said this could be achieved by upgrading and extending railway line from Silchar to Jiribam and Imphal to Myanmar which can he extended to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
He urged the central government to upgrade NH53 which links Silchar with Imphal.