VIENTIANE, Aug 8:     The delegation from the North East headed by Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh and Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein had a series of meeting with various ministers of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic at Vientiane today.               

Mein called for strengthening the South East ASEAN trade and cultural relations through cultural exchange programme to encourage people to people contact between the ASEAN countries including Lao PDR and entire North East of India. He also stressed on encouraging business partnership between people of ASEAN countries and North East India and to use the tourism potential of both the regions for its economic development. He further called to explore the connectivity through air, railway and river ways besides road connectivity and stated that North East India can play a vital role in expanding trade and business connectivity between ASEAN countries and India.           

Mein also highlighted about the prospects of investment in Arunachal Pradesh citing the vast potential of natural resources of the State like fast flowing rivers suitable for hydropower generation and informed that the State of Arunachal Pradesh poised to add about 1000-2000 MW of Hydropower in the next decade, the excess power generated can be transmitted to the neighbouring ASEAN countries which hold a huge prospects.

He also briefed about the ecological resources of the State citing Arunachal Pradesh as the home to highest bio-diversity of flora & fauna of varieties of medicinal plants, orchids and bamboos that hold huge investment potential in Research & development and value addition. He also mentioned about the potential of natural resources and varied geo-climatic diversity citing the investment potential of the State in niche tourism; nature tourism, adventure sports and very high end customized therapeutic tourism. He invited the ministers of Lao PDR to visit the States of North East India including Arunachal Pradesh to explore for themselves.

Chief Minister of Manipur, Biren Singh apprised the Ministers of Lao PDR about the impetus given by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi to the ASEAN countries and North East India with respect to connectivity and economic development in the region. He informed that the expansion of road from Moreh in Manipur to Tamu in Myanmar which will go up to Vietnam passing through Myanmar, Thailand and Laos is under progress and the Govt of India has already given fund for the expansion of the road up to Tamu in Myanmar. Once this road is completed, the major connectivity will be achieved and there can be increase trade activities and people to people contact between the people of North East India and ASEAN countries, he opined. 

He further stated that the Manipur being the closest state to the ASEAN countries can unlock the latent potential of the region and can serve as a link between the ASEAN countries and the North East and rest of India. He further called for cooperation from both sides and invited the Ministers and Cultural troupes from Lao PDR to participate in the Sanghai Festival of Manipur that is celebrated in the month of November every year as a part of cultural exchange programme.

During the subsequent meetings, numbers of issues were discussed and mutually agreed upon to draw future follow up action plans to further strengthen the relationship between the North East India and the Lao PDR.

The dignitaries were accompanied by Ravi Shankar Aisola, Ambassador, Embassy of India to Lao PDR, Southan Sakonninhom, Ambassador of Lao PDR to India, Honchun Ngandam, Minister of Education, Arunachal Pradesh, Parliamentary Secretaries from Manipur L Susindra Meitei and S Ranjan Singh, Habib Mohammed Chowdhury, Chairman, ASEAN-India Business Council, Lao PDR Chapter among others.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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