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DoNER plans to promote NE in Thailand |
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Buoyed by the response of investors in New York, the Con¬gress-led UPA Government at the Centre plans to showcase the North Eastern Region (NER) in Thailand, with a special focus on the tourism potential of the region. The Government’s plan to float a dedicated airline has also taken wings, with the new regional air service likely to become operational next July, announced Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister of DoNER, in New Delhi on Sept. 28.
The region now has 226 daily flights but with the involve¬ment of DoNER the number of intra-regional flight is expected to go up to 500 flights in the next two years, he said.
Stressing on improving connectivity, Aiyer said that focus of the 11th Five Year Plan was going to be on improving connec¬tivity in the region. Around Rs 50,000 crore is going to be spent on highways and the Railways are going to invest Rs 15,000 crore. The Inland Water Authority of India is going to make the Brahma¬putra River navigable round the year, he added.
About the forthcoming North East India Trade and Investment Opportunities Week in Bangkok, the Minister said close to 400 entrepreneurs from India and Thailand are going to take part in the week-long event. The primary reason for taking this initia¬tive is to attract investment from Thailand in various sectors in the region. The main sector identified included road, rail, inland waterway, air connectivity and energy, he added.
Aiyar is leading the Indian delegation that also includes Minister of State for Industry, Ashwini Kumar. The Minister has been taken on board to explain the new North East Investment and Promotion Policy.
The delegation also includes six Chief Ministers and State Ministers, besides top officials from Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Shipping, Road Transport and Highway among others. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who attended the New York Investment Summit, is not likely to participate.
The Thai delegation would be led by the country’s Commerce Minister, Kirk-Krai Jirapaeth and includes deputy Minister of Commerce, who handles the country’s foreign investments.
“We are taking initiative that will enable North Eastern region to attract investment and FDI from abroad, as well as, promote export led economic development, Aiyer said.
The New York Summit has set the tone for what we are going to achieve in Thailand,” the Minister said.
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