ICC’s 8^th North-East Business Summit Concludes

Mr Sam Pitroda Addresses The Valedictory Session

New Delhi, 10th January, 2013: The two day 8th North East Business Summit organized by Indian Chamber of Commerce concluded with keynote address of Mr Sam Pitroda, Advisor to PM on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, Planning Commission, Government of India at the valedictory session. Also present at the session were H.E. U Thar Aye, Chief Minister of Sagaing Region of Myanmar, Dr Hun Kim, Country Director - India, Asian Development Bank, Mr Rajiv Mundhra, President Indian Chamber Of Commerce & Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce.

“North east is an important part of the country, which deserves more importance. The NE states should focus on three initiatives for improvement – Infrastructure, Information System & Innovation. The NE states have human capacity and potential. They should take more responsibility and initiative, demand more and do more.  Government is there to help”, said Mr Sam Pitroda, Advisor to PM on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, Planning Commission, Government of India.

“The North East States have tremendous tourism potential. We are now focusing on IT and an IT Park is being set up in Imphal. A Timber Park has been set up to facilitate furniture manufacturing. Apart from offering subsidies in various sectors, Government is also introducing inter-state transport subsidy for the food sector”, said Mr Govindas Konthoujam, Hon’ble Minister, Industries & Commerce, Government of Manipur.

“North-East India is virtually sitting at the cusp of a high trajectory growth path, by virtue of its strategic location, natural resource base, high literacy rate and English speaking population. As pointed out by the twelfth five year plan, connectivity is crucial for ensuring the future growth and development of the NER, and its ensuing integration with the neigbouring Southeast Asian, East Asian and South Asian nations”, said Mr Rajiv Mundhra, President, Indian Chamber Of Commerce.

“North East India offers huge opportunities in sectors of strategic importance like energy and infrastructure; oil, natural gas and hydrocarbons; agro, food processing and horticulture; floriculture; IT and ITeS and Tourism. Necessary infrastructure development, greater promulgation of e-governance, reinstatement of affordable rail, road, air and inland waterway connectivity between the North-Eastern states and the rest of India, and the Southeast, South and East Asian countries can unlock the true economic potential of the region. Better tourism development initiatives and greater stakeholder participation in the growth process are key imperative for the region. Time-bound implementation of projects, conducive centre-state relations, political stability, monitoring of fund–flows and necessary marketing and branding can truly transform this goldmine of a region into a vibrant hub for business, tourism and trade. ICC is keen to partner the government in all its initiatives at tapping the NER’s locational advantage as a backdrop to its development. We hope that as India and the ASEAN look forward to a speedy implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, the North-Eastern states will successfully capture the growing synergies of improved trade and investment linkages and will emerge as an international trade hub for the Asian Union”, said Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber Of Commerce.

Connectivity and infrastructure needs to be developed at a fast pace in the North East, to make gainful use of its advantageous position. While the Government both at the Centre and the States have made tireless efforts towards the same, given the volume of investments required private intervention is strictly called for to achieve the targeted capacity.

Mr Hun Kim, Country Director - India, Asian Development Bank, highlighted ADB’s various initiatives and activities for boosting up infrastructure in the North-East, and shared his vision for the region’s future infrastructural developments. Commenting that trade agreements like India-ASEAN have deeper implications for the North-East, Mr. Kim added that it is heartening to note that there are several proposals under consideration with regard to land and sea connectivity. These include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway, its extension to Laos and Cambodia and the development of a new highway also linking Vietnam. The ADB will actively engage with the North-Eastern states to boost infrastructural links with the neighbouring countries, he assured.

The 2-day Summit had focused Sessions on critical sectors & issues including – Infrastructure & Connectivity through PPPs;  Exclusive Investors’ Meet with DoNer Minister & NE Industry Ministers; Border Trade; Tourism & Hospitality opportunities; Oil & Gas; Horticulture & Food Processing; Education & Skill Development; Financial Inclusion, etc. The Exclusive ICC NDTV Profit Panel Discussion on “Agenda for North East: Taking Quantum Leap” raised meaningful deliberations revolving around issues like - capacity building both in terms of labour and capital in the region; ICT Roadmap for the NER ; Review of the NEIIPP 2007 ; current status of the various Infrastructure projects in the region, etc.

The 8th North-East Business Summit, was truly one of the largest ever Conference cum Exhibition on the North-Eastern part of the country. The Indian Chamber Of Commerce is committed to promote awareness of this region and, the 8th Summit was an endeavour to ensure that Corporate India sits up and takes notice of the North-East, so that the region reaches a significantly higher growth trajectory in the near future, in sync with the policy recommendations laid down in the Vision 2020 document.

About Indian Chamber Of Commerce

Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Kolkata, the Indian Chamber of Commerce is a leading National Chamber in the country with offices in New Delhi, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar and Patna. ICC intends to come-up with an Action agenda for Energy sector over next two months and engage with key stakeholders and Government authorities towards implementation. ICC Nation Expert Committee on Energy met on the sidelines of the Summit and finalized the broad structure of the Action agenda.

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