Assam Minister promises 'action packed' winter for trade

Guwahati, Aug 18 (UNI) It would be an 'action packed' winter for Assam as far as the commerce and industries sector is concerned.

Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Pradyut Bordoloi today announced of a North-East Investment Week in Bangkok from October 1 to 4, besides the India International Tea Convention in the state in November.

Addressing a press meet here, Mr Bordoloi said, '' We can promise of an action packed winter with regards to the industries and commerce sector in the state. More concrete proposals are likely to be formalized and the state would figure prominently in the international circuit.'' Elaborating on the investment week in Bangkok, he said, ''This is a direct follow up action of the Thai delegation visit to NE in June.'' A high-level officials and business delegate, led by Thai Commerce Minister Jirapet, had visited Agartala, Guwahati and Shillong in the last week of June and held extensive discussions on the investment and trade avenues in the region.

The outcome of the discussions had also featured in the Prime Ministerial-level talks between the two countries held immediately after the visit in New Delhi.

The Thailand Prime Minister had proposed the investment week and accordingly, the Department of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was organizing it, Mr Bordoloi said.

He said the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) would be coordinating the meet and the business bodies and related departments have been entrusted with the task of submitting the list of delegates by August 25.

This would be the first-of-its-kind investment meet focusing on NE overseas and the only tangible step towards opening up NE for South East Asia after the car rally , he added.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would be leading the team from Assam, Mr Bordoloi informed, adding that the other NE states would be sending separate teams.

Spelling out the core sectors to be highlighted in the meet, Mr Bordoloi said, '' The thrust will be on investment rather than trade. We will go for discussions of sector-specific manner.'' The prominent sectors that would feature include construction of industries, power, inland water ways, tourism, processed food, horticulture, rubber, IT and telecom, handloom and handicrafts and bamboo.

On the international tea convention Guwahati and Jorhat would host between November 22-25, the minister said the government would provide all necessary support and facilities to the Tea Board and Indian Tea Association, the main organizers of the meet.

Mr Bordoloi maintained that the convention would provide the tea growers of the state exposure to the international demands and standards. ''We are promoting Assam tea with its uniqueness and the convention would give it a much-needed boost,'' he added.

UNI