Talk to neighbours on border trade

Umiam (Meghalaya), Nov 9: Deputy Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that India should convince the governments of neighbouring countries, for opening border trade in the North Eastern part of the country.

''I will speak to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the feasibility of opening up border trade with neighbouring countries in the region,'' the Deputy Planning Commission Chairman said, adding that he would also take up the matter with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to convince India's neighbouring countries.

''I am sure the opening up of border trade in the region would develop better relations with neighbouring countries Bangladesh and Myanmar and raise the people's economy of the region,'' Dr Ahluwalia told sources here today.

The Deputy Planning Commission Chairman felt that Bangladesh should further open up its trade relation with India in order to reap the benefits through India's Look East Policy with the South East Asian Countries.

In its 11th Five Year Plan for North East, Dr Ahluwalia said the Planning Commission main thrust for the region would focus more on health, education, agriculture and infrastructural development.

Pointing out that North East need more infrastructural development, he said the region should have better air and land connectivity to uplift the economy of the region.

Adding that investment in infrastructure development in the region should be met by the public sector the region should encourage private investors to invest in the region.

On the micro-credit facilities to the farmers and entrepreneurs of the region, Dr Ahluwalia admitted that the micro-credit expansion was very poor.

In the last three years, though the other states in the country saw 30 per cent growth, but the region has not received any benefit from this growth.

The Deputy Planning Commission Chairman felt that it was time for the farmers of the region to work on the path of adopting commercial farming to increase their productivity.

UNI