Itanagar, Oct 19: Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) Chief, Conrad K Sangma, has suggested for strong inter-state trade between the North Eastern States, suggesting that the region should plan for self-sufficiency as a single unit.

He said he has also discussed this matter with the Prime Minister of India.

Aside all our affiliations, political or otherwise, the only agenda we must unanimously take forward is that of the North East & its people.

Thank you NPP Arunachal unit for organising the Conclave & my gratitude to all the speakers today@Mutchu4 @meipat @PradyotManikya pic.twitter.com/C2aUNwVE9v

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) October 19, 2021

“The trade between the North Eastern states such as between Manipur and Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam, Assam and Arunachal, Assam and Nagaland, so on… it is important that we think on how can we increase this inter-State trade,” he said adding that North East itself can become one strong economic zone if there is strong trade amongst them.

“You will see that there are many products that come from outside the North Eastern region, so can’t we have a policy in our respective state such that we do only piggery Mission in Meghalaya and supply it to the whole of North East, Assam has lot of land suitable for aquaculture so it can go for aquaculture mission,” he said while speaking at the Regional Conclave on the theme “Regional Aspiration, National Outlook” organised by the Arunachal unit of NPP on Tuesday at Itanagar.

He informed that Meghalaya consumes 33,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of fish while pork consumption is about 15,000 MT per year. Of the 33,000 MT of fish, about 70% comes from outside North East.

“What I want to convey is that as we move ahead we must have North East base economic agenda,” he stressed.

Also addressing concerns that these issues are simply the political agenda of the NPP, he said, “Obviously we are a political party but that doesn’t mean we’ll do everything for politics. Politics is a platform for us from where we can work for the state and people but connecting with the public and getting ideas from them is very important.”

He further stated that in a professional system it is important that each one does their work but all should share their ideas because their agenda is same, which is the agenda for North East. “So NPP wants to give you this platform… joining the party is your choice, but we need to start discussing,” he said.