NEC Sectoral Summit a grand success: Aiyar

Kohima, Aug 2 (UNI) Union DoNER Minister and Chairman of the North Eastern Council(NEC) Mani Shankar Aiyar has said the 7th Sectoral Summit on IT, IT-Enabled Services and Telecommunications has been successful.

The summit on IT, IT-Enabled Services and Telecommunications concluded here yesterday with the Union Minister addressing the press after the summit.

The Union Minister said that the summit had been successful in exploring many avenues on IT and IT-enabled services, which could facilitate the development of NE.

Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the summit yesterday, Mr Aiyar said emphasis had been given to improve IT-related sectors adding that BSNL services would be further extended in the region.

The NEC, in consultation with BSNL and other service providers, would consider having a Regional Institute for Training of technical personnel, preferably at Dimapur, for meeting the requirements of telecom sector.

Meanwhile, BSNL had decided to invest one and half times the amount they invested in the past three years in the entire North East. Moreover, consultation was on with Power Grid Corporation of India Limited(PGCIL) to help BSNL bring Optic Fibre Cable through the Power Transmission Towers of PGCIL, Mr Aiyar said.

Besides, broadband would be customised very soon and facilities would be extended to more towns in NE.

He said the ministry will launch ''North East India Investment Opportunity Week'' at Bangkok from October 1. He also invited all the chief ministers of NE to accompany him to Bangkok to demonstrate all possible avenues for the investors.

''The week will open a new era for the region and it will get good exposure,'' he said.

Besides, the NEC was working on the concept to establish an ''IT Brotherhood'', where various agencies would work together with new ideas for the development of the region under the leadership of Mr P P Srivastava, a senior member of NEC.

UNI