Mizoram minister's tour opens door for global funds

Aizawl, Dec 5 (UNI) With a view to facilitating all-round development in the state, the Mizoram government, in association with various agencies under the UNO, has initiated various projects and programmes and exhibited them on a global platform to attract investment opportunities from across the world.

A government statement said here today that State Education Minister Dr R Lalthangliana, also the chairman of the Working Group on International Cooperation, conveyed these initiatives to world leaders during his ten-day visit to the United States and Europe recently.

''The move would give rise to a whole new impetus of investment from the international level that has never been witnessed earlier,'' the statement claimed.

Mr Lalthangliana requested for financial and other assistance to establish the ''Laldenga Institute of Peace'' in Mizoram, in a meeting with officials at the United States Institute of Peace.

''From being the most turbulent state to getting transformed into an island of peace, Mizoram is worth describing as a model state to the nations of the world,'' the minister said.

He also interacted with International Alliance for Youth Sports (IAYS) president Fred Engh at their headquarters at the West Palm Beach, Florida.

Projects of sports upgradation for Mizoram school children and the SSA mission were discussed in the meeting.

Mr Engh was expected to come to the state within January to kickstart the ''Games on Youth Sports,'' the statement said.

Mr Lalthangliana also met Development Gateway Foundation headquarters chairman-cum-chief executive officer Mark Fleed and his associates, concerning the promotion of education, tourism and sports under the World Bank and other international funding agencies, where implementation of proposals by the state government were discussed, the official statement added.

He also met International Finance Corporation vice-chairman Farida Khambata and other officials to discuss develoment strategies for Mizoram and South East Asia.

During his stay in the US, Mr Lalthangliana met various international funding partners regarding development projects on trade and tourism, education, medical sciences, IT and others.

UNI