4TH NORTH EAST BUSINESS SUMMIT AT GUWAHAT

4th North East Bussiness Summit to begin in Guwahati on Monday, the 15th of September
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The 4th North East Business Summit is to be held in Guwahati on 15-16th September 2008. The fourth North East Summit is to be organized by the Department of North East Region, DoNER in collaboration with the Indian Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Kolkata.

The main objective of the summit is to showcase the potential of the NE States and to promote private sector investments. The fourth summit will primarily focus on sectors such as tourism, food processing, power, infrastructure, information technology, handloom and cottage industries especially in the context of the Look East Policy on trade and investment linkages with ASEAN and SAARC countries. A special session on "North East on Fast Track - Building International Partnership" with special reference to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines to discuss mutual cooperation will be the main attraction of the Summit. Governors and Chief Ministers of all NE States are likely to attend. Eight foreign Ambassadors and about 50 foreign delegates would be attending the event. More than 200 private participants from North East region and near about 175 outside the North East region will also participate in the event. The highlights of the summit include Chief Minister’s Conclave, International Session with Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Ambassadors from Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Arab League and Bhutan, Special Thai Investment Session, Specific sessions on Infrastructure, Agro & Food Processing, Tourism, IT & Skill Development, One-to-One discussions among prospective investors (both from Northeast & Foreign), banks, government officials, and corporate representatives, State Government Investment Hubs and an Exhibition-showcasing Northeast. Cultural evening will be based on the rich art, culture and heritage of the people of the North Eastern States – and to bring about a cultural integration with the rest of the country. “Thai Night” reception and cultural show is being organized by the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi.

The 4th. Business Summit has been brought closer to the people and the Governments in the North East. It is expected that the Summit would focus the problems of the region with greater emphasis and try to find an integrated development programme in line with the “VISION 2020” document released by the Prime Minister recently.

This year, emphasis has been given on the trade and economic relations of the North East with the neighbours with a focus on the ASEAN countries. The North East is considered a gateway to the East for the Indian sub-continent and hold a brighter future.

The new Industrial policy of the Government for the North East is exclusive for the 8 states and offers a host of attractive incentives for the investors to tap the vast natural resources of the region.

The NER is not only suitable for large investments in manufacturing in the traditional areas where it has enjoyed competitive advantages but also in the sectors of agriculture, education, health and tourism, where private investment has immense opportunity. Agro processing, post harvest technology and transportation, super-specialty health care, higher education, and tourism are amongst the most promising sectors for investment. As 80% of the population of the region is engaged in agriculture, investment in infrastructure, manufacturing and services will provide alternative off-farm sources of employment and create a tertiary and service sector that is so essential for development. Investors and governments must participate in the development of infrastructure through the Public Private Partnership model, particularly in the construction and communication sectors.

Source: PIB, New Delhi)