Dr Jitendra announces 'Make in North East' initiative
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Information Bureau
New Delhi, January 20 2015:
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has announced "Make in North East" initiative beginning with a comprehensive tourism plan for the region, here today.
He also announced the decision to appoint a Brand Ambassador who, he said, could personify the heritage and identity of North East and at the same time, inspire the rest of the countrymen to "look east" and "act east" .
Chairing a joint meeting of senior officers of the Ministry of DoNER and the Union Ministry of Tourism, Dr Jitendra Singh said, "Make in North East" initiative, inspired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's "Make in India" concept, will in the long run seek to promote exclusive North East expertise in areas like tea processing, organic farming, food processing, exploitation of wind power through wind mills, AYUSH, wellness therapies like spas, etc.
A detailed brochure for investors will also be prepared and released across the country to encourage investment in North East, he added.
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In order to develop North East as a destination for investors, holiday seekers and tourists, Dr Jitendra Singh said, mega circuit and mega destination projects of Tourism Ministry in the area will also be pursued.
Soon after taking over the charge of the Ministry of DoNER two months ago, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled, the first decision taken by him was to plan a 2015 calendar for the Ministry of DoNER based on theme of North East festivals with each month displaying the traditional local festival of each region in that particular season.
When circulated across the country, this annual calendar will serve as a document to introduce the tradition, culture and tourism of the region through one single document, he added.
Revealing future plans, Dr Jitendra Singh said, his Ministry will soon organize an event in Mumbai for interaction with industry representa- tives in order to bring awareness about the vast potential of the North East region which can be done with much greater ease and cost effectiveness without travelling abroad.
It is strange, he observed, that there was only one film maker who had, with commitment, focused on depicting North East through cinema and therefore, the visual glory of North East locations needs to be reintroduced to the present generation as well.
One of the important objectives of "Make in North East" initiative, Dr Jitendra Singh said, will be not only to generate revenue for North East but also to create job opportunities to prevent the exodus of youth which is presently taking place from the region to the rest of the country.
The meeting, among others, was attended by Secretary (Tourism) Dr Lalit K Panwar, Secretary (DoNER), Vijay Kumar.