Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Government of India, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, said that it is opportune and well-timed that a B20 event is being organised in Kohima, Nagaland as the focus of the government at the Centre is the development of the North East Region. Singh had graced the G20 event on Wednesday here at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima.
He said that though the North East Region of India are the furthest from the country’s centre, the region is central to the connection with India’s immediate neighbours to the East, be it Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or South Asia.
Northeast is India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and it will have seamless land connectivity with the heart of ASEAN, and beyond, once the India Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway is complete, he stated, adding that Centre is continuously working for seamless land and rail connectivity with Bangladesh too.
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The Union Minister pointed out that in the present day, the North East can be regarded as the centre of a potentially dynamic region of the world, surrounded by the ASEAN, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and mainland India. He urged the business community to consider this factor while exploring opportunities in the NER.
Mentioning that the youth from NE served as the backbone in the initial heydays of business process outsourcing boom in India, Singh said, the youth today play critical role in hospitality and care-giving sectors across India. We have rich human resource base. They will grow your business for you in the North East, and beyond, he added.
Singh said that NE is front and centre to India’s political leadership and that the region offers immense and relatively unexplored market opportunities. The focus of our leadership is the development of NER as the New Engine of Growth for India, he said.
He exuded confidence that the Business 20 event in Nagaland will give investors a unique opportunity to know North East and to examine opportunities in the region from close quarters.
He urged the business community to use these platforms to start a conversation, be the first movers and assured that 10 years down, they will not regret it.
Singh also maintained that the Prime Minister’s unique initiatives, like the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), showcases the importance being attached to the development of the NER by the Government.
Highlighting some of the achievements, Singh said the number of airports in the region has jumped from 9 to 16. The number of flights connecting the region have increased from about 900, before 2014, to around 1900 today and the length of highways in the region has increased by 50% since 2014.
Pleasured to join B-20 initiatives in #Kohima, land of festivals, spoke about the potential of #NEIndia. I am confident that this #B20India in Nagaland will give an unique opportunity to experience Northeast, and examine opportunities. @Neiphiu_Rio, @DPIITGoI @FollowCII pic.twitter.com/kXBYuRV096
— Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (@RanjanRajkuma11) April 5, 2023
Read more: Nagaland: G20 delegates welcomed in the ‘Land of Festivals’
