India-Japan-Bangladesh brainstorm connectivity projects & value chains in Bay of Bengal
Intellectual Conclave titled “North East India, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal region in the Indo-Pacific: The Way Forward,” was organized by think tank Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Minister of External Affairs, India (MEA), Embassy of Japan in India, and North Eastern Council in the picturesque city of Shillong on Monday.
Ambassador of Japan to India, Hiroshi Suzuki highlighted the necessity to identify the actionable projects for new investments in the region. Focusing on connectivity between India and Bangladesh, High commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Mustafizur Rehman said that connectivity projects must be mutually beneficial.
P Kumaran, Special Secretary, Economic Relations & Development Partnership Administration, MEA, emphasized on the projects that are taken up in the Northeast India and explained how robust connectivity between India and Bangladesh could become a game changer for the Bay of Bengal region.
Highlighting on the importance of Bangladesh in Northeast India’s future K. Moses Chalai, Secretary North Eastern Council, argued that to go east one must go through south. Emphasizing the aspect of developing the urban infrastructure in Northeast India, chief secretary of Meghalaya Donald P Wahlang, argued that by 2047 Northeast India could contribute around 5 per cent of India’s GDP.
Interactive panel discussions on the topics “Towards Creating Industrial Value Chains: Voices from the Industry,” and “Empowering Institutional Infrastructure for people connectivity,” were chaired by
