Shillong, Oct 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has urged North Eastern Council (NEC) to consider building a strong, experienced, and flexible team of professional resources that can assist North Eastern States and its line departments. Additionally, he suggested that NEC together with other institutions such as DoNER, NITI Aayog and the State Governments can collaborate to have a strategic outlook for NE States. Here, the role of NEC must be distinctly outlined and aligned to the Prime Minister’s Act East Policy.

Speaking at the Workshop on ‘Changing role of North Eastern Council in Development of North East Region’ here on Monday which was also attended by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, he said in his interactions with other Chief Ministers of North Eastern States, he observed that many states frequently need support in project plan preparation, master planning and project estimation of various infrastructure projects in tourism, roads, etc. Without this initial set of plans, the projects do not take off, thus line departments end up in accomplishing this task through ad-hoc means.

Thus, for better planning, Sangma said, “I urge NEC to consider building a strong, experienced, and flexible team of professional resources that can assist North Eastern States and its line departments. It is of utmost importance to have a flexible centralized pool of human resources that can not only support the departments of all these states but also helps them in capacity building for the future.”

NEC’s critical role in reforming trade and commerce policies

The Meghalaya CM also mentioned that in ‘Ease of Doing Business’, North East States shows an unsatisfactory ranking. Barring Assam and Mizoram, all other States are ranked last in the index. On the other hand, the region is closest to the booming South East Asian market.

“NEC may play a critical role to help all of us reform our trade and commerce policies, regulations and services. Thus, supporting us in opening new economic development doorways for the country,” suggested Sangma.

Access to seaport through Bangladesh

The CM further mentioned that the region has the world’s fifth longest international land border, with four NE States sharing the border with Bangladesh. “In my view, Bangladesh offers a huge potential of economic cooperation in various sectors. Access to seaport through Bangladesh would open up the entire South East Asian market for North Eastern India,” he observed.

He also stated that he has discussed on the possible trade opportunities with Bangladesh and Meghalaya during his visit to the neighbouring nation.

“This opportunity could be further extended to entire North East. NEC can play a pivotal role in arranging a delegation of North East Chief Ministers visit to Bangladesh and support in drafting a cohesive border trade strategy for all the four states bordering Bangladesh,” he added.

Thus, Meghalaya and other NE States would be better equipped to explore opportunities related to special economic corridor, special economic zones which in turn lead to comprehensive development of the region, suggested Sangma.