Assam to operate as hub for activating Act East policy of NDA government
GUWAHATI: To forge better ties with South East Asian countries, BJP-led government in Assam will set up department of Act East. The state government has decided to set up world trade centre in Guwahati which will house diplomatic offices and banks.
NDA government has rechristened the earlier policy of “Look East” to Act East. Assam industry minister, Chandra Mohan Patwary told ET, “Assam will play a pivotal role in India’s engagement with South East Asian countries and for these we are creating requisite infrastructure.”
Patwary said that Niti Aayog has in principle consented to availing of requisite loan from Asian Development Bank for dredging the Bangladesh part of river transport system. “We will soon start dredging of Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Brahmaputra (891 km). India has got access to the ports of Bangladesh and Myanmar.”
At least six bridges will come up over Brahmaputra. The industry minister added, “request for proposal for construction of world trade center will be floated soon. We are seeking international players for this project. Despite South East Asia being our closest landmass, we have to spend considerable time and money in getting different papers from New Delhi in order to visit or do business with these countries. The world trade center will bring all these offices here.”
Patwary said: “Civil aviation ministry has started pumping in Rs 1,000 cr to upgrade the terminal of Guwahati airport besides the railways is working on connectivity to different states of the region.” The industry minister said: “With improved infrastructure and connectivity, industries will come to Assam and from here they can target South Asian and ASEAN markets. The population of Bangladesh is 15 crore while that of ASEAN is 6 cr.”
NDA government has rechristened the earlier policy of “Look East” to Act East. Assam industry minister, Chandra Mohan Patwary told ET, “Assam will play a pivotal role in India’s engagement with South East Asian countries and for these we are creating requisite infrastructure.”
Patwary said that Niti Aayog has in principle consented to availing of requisite loan from Asian Development Bank for dredging the Bangladesh part of river transport system. “We will soon start dredging of Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Brahmaputra (891 km). India has got access to the ports of Bangladesh and Myanmar.”
At least six bridges will come up over Brahmaputra. The industry minister added, “request for proposal for construction of world trade center will be floated soon. We are seeking international players for this project. Despite South East Asia being our closest landmass, we have to spend considerable time and money in getting different papers from New Delhi in order to visit or do business with these countries. The world trade center will bring all these offices here.”
Patwary said: “Civil aviation ministry has started pumping in Rs 1,000 cr to upgrade the terminal of Guwahati airport besides the railways is working on connectivity to different states of the region.” The industry minister said: “With improved infrastructure and connectivity, industries will come to Assam and from here they can target South Asian and ASEAN markets. The population of Bangladesh is 15 crore while that of ASEAN is 6 cr.”
