Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 197/12

DR. MUKUL SANGMA ATTENDED THE NORTH EAST INDIA BANGLADESH BUSINESS CONCLAVE

Shillong, June 1, 2012: Dr. Mukul Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya attended the North East India–Bangladesh Business Conclave at the 3rdIndo–Bangla Trade Fair, 2012 held in Dhaka which was organized by the Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IBCCI) on the 31st May, 2012.

In an interaction with Dr. Dipu Moni, Hon’ble Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Chief Minister stressed on the need to build more trust through social interaction between the citizens of Bangladesh and the North Eastern States of India. The Conclave was also attended by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and two other Ministers from Tripura and Assam.

Later in the evening, the Delegation of Ministers from the North East India met the Hon’ble Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangladesh, where the Chief Minister informed about the recent steps taken by the Government of India and Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation between the two countries which would go a long way towards reviving the age old ties between the people of Bangladesh and the North East India. The Chief Minister stressed on the need to open up more Border Haats and to develop trade routes through inland water ways. The proposed road connectivity from Dhubri through the southern slopes of Meghalaya to Tripura and to Bangladesh would improve the trade and commerce in the region.

During the discussion, Dr. Mukul M Sangma, Chief Minster dwelt on the tourism potential and for promotion of tourism jointly by Bangladesh and the North Eastern States including Bhutan. He, therefore, proposed to organize a Conclave of Tour Operators of Bangladesh and North Eastern States at Shillong. Operationalisation of the Dhaka–Sylhet–Shillong–Guwahati bus service needs to be expedited as this would go a long way towards developing tourism in the region. Land Custom Stations/ Immigration Offices should be set up and also be strengthened to meet with this requirement.

The Chief Minister further suggested that joint ventures in the field of thermal power generation/ power transmission and new technologies in bamboo based projects may be explored for the development and benefit of both the countries.