DoNER Minister stresses paradign shift in NE trade
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Shillong, October 18 2011: The Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNEER), Paban Singh Ghatowar today in Shillong expressed the need of the North Eastern Region to make a paradigm shift by trading with the neighbouring countries to boost economy.

Ghatowar said the region could provide ample of opportunities for international trade, as the region shares border with China in the North and Myanmar in the East.

Ghatowar informed that important development of India's Look East Policy which was initiated by former Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao has started bearing fruits due to continuing dialogue and trade with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and other countries of ASEAN.

Inaugurating a workshop on "North East Development Paradigms" organized by the Research Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Regional Studies, Kolkota in Shillong today, Ghatowar said the Look East Policy, which has pursued through constructive engagements with various regional groupings and organizations such a ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical, Economic Cooperation and Mekong Ganga Cooperation could be the first paradigm shift in an attempt growth development.

"The various trade engagements and agreements like India-ASEAN, FTA and BIMSTEC will definitely play a major role in attracting investment from the neighbouriong countries to the North Eastern Region in the long run", Ghatowar said, adding that the region could develop as an international trade hub.

The Minister also informed that the Centre national project under the North East Rail Development Fund like the Rs.850 crore Dimapur-Zubza (Kohima) new line project , Dhola Sadia Bridge project, Bogibeel Rail cum Road Bridge over Bramaputra, Jiribam - Imphal Road new line could play a major role in addressing connectivity issues in the North Eastern Region.

"Advani yatra deflated" (Guwahati): Digvijay Singh who is the general secretary of AICC said today in Guwahati that Anna Hazare's anti-graft crusade did not impact the Hisar by-poll outcome while ridiculing senior BJP leader LK Advani for taking out a rath yatra on deflated tyres.

Digvijay Singh asks, "If Kuldeep Bishnoi (of Haryana Janhit Congress who won the Hisar by-election) claims local factors and not Hazare's anti-graft movement tilted the scales in his favour, who am I to counter?" .

The Congress leader scoffed at Advani for saying that the UPA government did not have any political will to fight corruption.

"We ask him why action was not taken against former BJP president Bangaru Laxman under Prevention of Corruption Act when he was seen taking money during a sting operation," Singh said, adding: "Where was Advani's political will then?" .

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