NE region key to strengthen India-ASEAN trade relations: Assam CM Himanta Biswa

Guwahati, July 29 (KNN) The North-eastern region can play a crucial role in strengthening India’s relations with the South East Asian nations by acting as a springboard to facilitate bilateral trade, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday.

While addressing the Second North East India buyer-seller meet organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in association with the Ministry of External Affairs, Sarma said the region is located in the middle of the fastest emerging nations of South East Asia and the long international borders that it shares with these nations, BBN (Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal) countries and China gives it a unique geographical advantage.

Sarma further highlighted that Assam is NE region’s largest economy and is known of being an industrial state because of its prolific tea, oil, and coal and tourism industry.

“Considering the well-established petrochemical industry in the state, it can take the lead in producing green plastics which are in huge demand in developed markets. Organic products of the state such as ginger, lemon, bhut jolokia’ chilli etc. have huge export potential”, he said.

Recent efforts to improve the connectivity between Indian and South East Asian countries has highly benefitted the northeast states.

The setting up of the North East Economic corridor connecting markets in Bangladesh and the ASEAN region is also being actively contemplated to give a fillip to trade and commerce, CM said.

The second edition of the buyer-seller meets saw a total of 300 buyers and sellers participating in the meet with 26 sectoral participation which includes handloom and handicrafts, agri-horti, floriculture, medicinal plants amongst others.  (KNN Bureau)