RK Ranjan bats for AEP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 20 2021: MoS Dr RK Ranjan has mulled the need to tie up with Manipuri diasporas in Myanmar and other South East Asian countries in order to take full benefit of the Act East Policy.

He made the remark while releasing a book titled 'Act East Policy, Free trade Agreement and Economic Growth Potential of India-ASEAN' authored by Biswajit Loitongbam at an event held at the Court Hall of Manipur University today.

Speaking at the programme, Dr RK Ranjan said the Government of India has been trying to effectively implement the Act East Policy for which the country has been trying to strengthen ties between India and countries of South East Asian region.

The political upheaval in neighbouring Myanmar has hampered the implementation of the said policy.

However, the Government of India will complete the 69 bridge projects in Myanmar at the earliest to further substantiate the implementation of Act East Policy.

The MoS also added that business in the border town of Moreh is mostly a one way trade with products from Myanmar and other countries flowing towards India through Manipur, he deliberated on the need to identify 5-10 products from each of the North Eastern States for export to other Nations.

Adding that the Government is also planning to connect Imphal with Mandalay, Sagaing and Dhaka under the Udan Scheme, Dr Ranjan maintained that effective implementation of Act East Policy will formulate better opportunities for the border States like Manipur which will become a transit point for tourists as well as pilgrims, both Hindu and Budhists, from various countries of the region.

Dr RK Ranjan expressed concern regarding the inability of Manipur University in securing a rank in the Top 200 universities of the country and added that the traditional methods of teaching alone cannot address the needs of the students in the current scenarios.The programme was also attended by SK Srivastav, VC in-charge; Dr RK Nimai, IAS (retd); Prof Ch Priyoranjan, HoD Economics Department, MU and Prof H Sudhir Kumar, HoD South East Asian Studies.

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