Rio hopeful of economy by Look East policy

Kohima, Mar 24 (UNI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the Centre's Look East policy will boost the economy of the entire North East, along with the rest of the country.

In his Budget speech, Mr Rio said the Union Government plans to expand its economic clout and influence in the South East Asian region and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries by increasing trade and commerce between these counries.

In his speech, he said, ''The economic potential of these countries hold unlimited scope for trade and commerce. This policy is also a key element in India's surge towards becoming a global economic power. The success of this policy is largely dependant on creating a trade route that cuts through the North Eastern states into South East Asia, which is proposed to pass through Nagaland, with a super Highway that will be an extension of the East-West corridor.'' ''While I have firm belief in this policy, it is a fact that much has to be done before New Delhi's aim of ''Looking East'' become a reality,'' he added.

Mr Rio further said the state governnemnt's agenda was to extend all possible support to the Centre to implement the policy in a practical manner, while urging the Centre to take up the task of infrastructure creation on a war footing.

Furthermore, he said the Centre was looking East, but the state should ''look all around'', since the state is surrounded by an unbroken international boundary, and there is scope for business and trade in every directions.

UNI AS LL PY BD1710