Skip to content Skip to navigation

Aiyar Pins Hope on NE’s Trade Link with SE Asia

Guwahati: Union minister for development of the north eastern region Mani Shankar Aiyar says the Look East Policy can be successful only when the region links with South East Asia.

Addressing a visiting delegation from Thailand on Friday in Agartala, Mr Aiyar says the South East Asia’s link with the north eastern region cannot come only through trade but through an integral business relationship.

Disclosing that the Government pins hope on as many as 50 more airports in the North East within the next five years, the minister this will help the region boost trade with the South East Asia.

According to Mr. Aiyar, some of the key areas of economic activity where Thailand has made its mark are rubber industry, bamboo industry, handlooms & handicrafts and natural gas. In the rubber industry the North Eastern region could take advantage of the Thai expertise and offer very fruitful investment opportunities.

Tripura and the entire North Eastern region should provide these investment opportunities to Thailand to mutually gain from such collaborations, he says.

With this kind of collaboration the present 30,000 acres under natural rubber cultivation in Tripura could be targeted at three times this area, he says adding that similar kind of collaborations could be worked out in Bamboo, Handlooms & handicrafts and areas of Natural Gas. He also emphasised the need to develop an impressive road network in the north eastern region.

Mr Aiyar maintains that the Government plans to put in $ 15 billion in road construction in this area adding that the Thai expertise in this area is most impressive and it can be used for building road transport infrastructure in the NE region.

He further says rail and air connectivity in the region is also an area of priority. About 600 intra regional air services within the region per week are expected to serve in near future.

Thai Minister of Commerce Mr. Krirk-krai Jirapaet says he is very keen on Indo Thai business relations and hopes that at the end of this three day visit many areas of such cooperation could be identified.

Thirty-two members including heads of different business agencies and export councils are accompanying Mr. Krirk-krai Jirapaet. These members will interact with Indian business counterparts and discuss business/investment opportunities.

The delegation is visiting Guwahati and Shillong apart from Agartala during their visit.

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Dozens of people sustained injury when a passenger train jumped off the tracks in Jagiroad on Wednesday. The incident took place in the wee hours when ten coaches of the Dimapur-Kamakhya passenger train toppled from the rails leaving 50 injured. Of them, ten passengers have been critically wounded who are battling for life at GMCH. Details awaited.
Dinesh Prasad Goala is dead. The former minister and sitting MLA died at a hospital in Kolkata where he was admitted on April 10 following heart ailment. Details are awaited.
Eastern Panorama the news magazine of North East invites nominations for Achievers Award 2014 in different categories including Business, Industry, Banking, Music, Social Service, NGO, Education, Activist, Photography, North East Brand, Adventure, Rural Entrepreneurs, Fashion, Culture and North East Connectivity.The last date of submission of nominations is 10th of March 2014. Sent your details through email at contact@easternpanorama.in or by post to Eastern Panorama 2nd Floor, RPG Complex, Keating Road, Shillong - 793001 Meghalaya
 Be a Citizen Journalist!Report your local news and events.For details visit: http://assamtimes.org/node/8Email: editor@assamtimes.org 
PRESS COUNCIL - Sub-Committee Report: “Paid News”: How corruption in the Indian media undermines democracylnformation Technology (Electronic Service Delivery) Rules, 2011AFSPA - Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958Assam Accord 1985Treaty of YandaboAssam Preventive Detention Act, 1980Nagaland: Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act, 2001The State of Nagaland Act, 1962The Disaster Management Act, 2005Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 Acts of the Environment & Forest Department, Govt of Assam:The Assam Sale of Forest Produce Coupes and Mahals rules, 1977The Assam Forest Protection Force Act, 1986The Assam Forest Regulation,...
A five member team of officials of state agriculture department of Assam headed by Timothy Das Hanse, Director of Horticulture and Food Processing , Assam had visited Thailand recently (!-6 February, 2013) for initiating a bilateral relationship with Thailand Government for promotion of Agri-Horti Sector of Assam. This programme could be envisaged to bear special significance in view of opening of East-West Corridor that will link this part of the country with south-east Asia to fetch new scope and opportunities for expansion of agri-horti market and cold chain development near future. During the visit, the team attended the Flower Festival at Chiangmai and met the Director of...
I was in Class V at the Scindia School, Gwalior, it was a usual routine in School getting up at 6.30 am and to get ready for a half an hour prep followed by breakfast and then school. It was morning of 8 February 1982 after my bath I did a regular prayer, when suddenly a small framed photo of Goddess Kamakhya Ma that I had kept in my cupboard fell, at that time I though why this photo fell when no one had touched the cupboard. We had developed the habit of praying in the morning and evening at our home at Tangla (now under Udalguri distrct) as was being done by elders in our joint family. Later, I went to school as usual and came back at about 12.15 pm for lunch at the School mess, I could...
Security forces seized a huge cache of plastic explosives from three youths who were on their way to target a power station in Dhemaji district on Saturday.According to police, the three youths, sped away on their motorcycles, when signalled to stop during a routine check near the Panbari border outpost under Gerukamukh police station.They were caught and arrested following a chase after three packets of plastic explosives, five packets of fuse wire, six fuses and daggers were found in their possession.Identified as Pranendra Wari, Nakesh Narzari and Hemkanta Narzari, they were targeting the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation at the Gerukamukh dam site.
The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has organized a press meet on January 25 to brief the reporters about the 3rd EMFA Media Awards 2012 scheduled for next month. The press meet, which will be addressed by EMFA office bearers, will begin on 2 pm. Considering the business of television personalities due to the constant coverage of Panchayat polls preparations in the State, the EMFA may decide to extend the deadline for entries of 3rd EMFA Media Awards for few more days.
Over 50 people have been injured when an ATSC bus overturned in the outskirt if Guwahati on Friday. The accident took place when the Assam State Transport Corporation owned bus on its way to Guwahati from Barpeta, was trying to overtake a truck when it overturned and rolled down the road to a nearby field in Nayanpur area.The condition of five injured was stated to be critical. They were admitted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, while the others are being treated at the Hajo Primary Health Care centre.