India shares ancient linkages with East and South East Asia: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that India has always shared ancient civilizational linkages with the countries belonging to East and South East Asia.
Union external Affairs Minister Dr. Subramaniam Jaishankar in presence of Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated Asian Confluence River Conclave 2022 (Nadi 3) at a function.

Organised by Asian Confluence in association with External Affairs Ministry, Government of India and Act East Policy Affairs Department, the two-day conclave has been organised to set an agenda for a collective vision of sub-regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal Region and in South East Asia.

Sarma expressed his happiness to have attended Nadi 3 and hosted the conclave in Guwahati on the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra which he believed would act as natural allies in development and interdependence.

He said, “NADI 3 Conclave gives us a remarkable opportunity for a collective vision of our shared prosperity. I am sure the deliberations at this Conclave will promote coordination for revitalizing our riverine connectivity to facilitate faster economic growth in the region”.

The Chief Minister also said that India has always shared ancient civilizational linkages with the countries belonging to East and South East Asia. These links have passed through Assam and Northeast. He also said that the ties between Northeast and ASEAN blocs are historical, cultural, social and economic. Taking this into consideration, Assam and Northeast can be used as a launch pad for intensifying mutual cooperation. He also underscored some vital areas of Assam’s economy where collaboration can be done for shared growth and prosperity.

The Chief Minister said that Assam is the largest economy in the Northeastern region and due to its proximity with rest of India and availability of quality infrastructure; the state offers best opportunities and environment for industrial growth. Presenting a snapshot of the bouquet of potentials available in Assam, Sarma referred to the promotion of natural farming which is based on production of natural cow based fertilizers and pesticides. This approach is climate friendly and highly sustainable as it eliminates the requirement of chemical fertilizers, State government is working on value chain approach addressing not only the production gaps but also post harvest value addition and nutrition related aspects.

Sarma also said that Assam’s biggest contribution to the world is tea. Assam produces some of the finest and most expensive teas in the world. The petroleum industry is another sector which is also contributing to the growth of Assam’s economy. Moreover, tourism has come up as a potential economic sector as the state is bestowed with rich cultural and natural heritage which is a home to many diverse ethnic communities offering varied and rich tourism experience.

The Chief Minister also said that State government has initiated a unique step to augment the medical sector in the state and therefore, it has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati and Tata Trusts for advanced healthcare innovation system. These collaborations have given a major fillip to transforming the healthcare scenario of the State. He also said that to strengthen industry-oriented and flexible skills education and training system in Assam, State government has taken step for setting up of Northeast India’s first Skill University at Darrang district with funding from ADB. The university would be a major step towards reshaping all vocational skilling efforts in the state, by providing quality technical and vocational education and training.

Sarma while drawing the attention of the delegates present at the conclave said that Assam is today amongst the top three states in the country in terms of attracting funding for Externally aided projects. Significant investments by the funding agencies in Assam is also a testimony to the immense potential that the state holds.
He also said that under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the waterways sector of Assam finds a new impetus. To harness the potential of vast network of the rivers, the Governments of India and Bangladesh have signed the Port Use Agreement and Use of Cross Border Inland Waterways and access of the Chattogram and Mongla Ports to the North East of India. Recognizing the significance of rivers for connectivity and prosperity of the North Eastern region, the Govt. of India declared 20 rivers as National Waterways in the North East and 15 of these 20 National Waterways are in the state of Assam. Therefore, the Chief Minister, said that Nadi 3 holds immense importance for Assam for revitalizing the riverine connectivity to facilitate faster economic growth in the region.

He also thanked External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for having come to Assam to inaugurate Nadi 3. His presence in the inaugural programmes showed the government’s commitment towards collaborative approach for regional development.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary while speaking on the occasion, said that India’s Northeastern states, and her immediate eastern neighbours, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and China and extended neighbours in the Bay of Bengal, together comprise a geographically compact region connecting South and South East Asia. But what used to be barriers impeding connectivity and human exchange in the past today stand out as windows of opportunity in the current scenario. These windows of opportunities are the rivers as this conclave would essentially draft a future action plan for connectivity and development using the network of rivers.