Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that the Act East Policy has to have specific zone wise strategies in order to make it a success. He further reiterated that there cannot be a generic Act East Policy.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Sub-Regional Capacity Building Workshop for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Connectivity at Taj Vivanta, Shillong.
“I have been advocating from the very beginning that Act East Policy has to be zoned. We need to have specific zone wise strategies to be able to take the Act East Policy forward,” Sangma said.
“Simplifying policies so that people don’t face difficulties in carrying out trade, making use of existing infrastructures like the Integrated Check Posts, improving road connectivity at the borders are low lying fruits that will make a difference,” he added.
Sangma further said that the Meghalaya government is keen on taking advantage of the low lying fruits that will boost trade and connectivity.
According to him, connectivity of the North East region of India to other east Asian and south eastern Asian countries is one of the most important agendas of the government.
“History suggests that there was a lot of trade between these regions pre Independence and that there is a huge potential of trade and connectivity in this region so we need to correct and fix all the barriers that have stopped the trade and connection,” he said.
Sangma also informed that if the North East region moves forward collectively it can contribute to the national goal of multiplying the economy of the country.
He also said that such interactions between countries will help in assessing and resolving issues. “I hope that this programme is just the beginning of a very large and transformational exercise,” he concluded.
Director, UNESCAP South and Southwest Asia Sub-Regional Office, Mikiko Tanaka said that Meghalaya’s geographical location in the BBIN and the momentum at which Meghalaya is accelerating trade and development is the perfect setting to host the workshop to promote connectivity among the BBIN countries.
She said that the workshop is part of UNESCAP’s mandated programme to support the improvement of cross border connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Also present during the inaugural session was Commissioner and Secretary, Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, Government of Meghalaya, Sampath Kumar who delivered the welcome address.
