The Northeast India Trade and Investment Week begins in Bangkok today.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region in their efforts to show-case the potential of the North Eastern Region of India and to attract investments have organized this ‘North-East India Trade & Investment Opportunities Week’ in Bangkok from 1st October to 4th October, 2007. The primary reason for taking this initiative is to attract investment from Thailand in various sectors in the region. The main sectors which have been identified for this purpose include infrastructure (road, rail, inland waterways, air connectivity and energy), food processing, tourism & hospitality, horticulture, handlooms & handicrafts, rubber and bamboo. These sectors are not exclusive and businessmen interested in tie- ups in information technology, private airlines and any other areas have been also invited to participate. The sector-wise interactive sessions in specific sectors and one to one interaction will take place with a view to have meaningful dialogue between the two sides and to have a fruitful outcome at the end of the event.
Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister for Development of Northeast Region (DoNER) is leading the delegation. Dr Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Industry and the Chief Ministers of most of the North Eastern States are participating in the event. The Indian delegation comprises of around 70 delegates, which include officials from the Central Ministries like Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, etc., all the North East States, specific Central Organisations/Public Sector Undertakings like National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Power Grid Corporation of Indian Ltd. (PGCIL), North Eastern Electric Power Corporation ltd. (NEEPCO), Air India, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Rubber Board, Spices Board etc. More than 150 businessmen/companies are also participating. Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Federation of Industries & Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) and SHEFXIL (Shellac & Forest Products), Export Promotion Council, along with others are participating in the event in a big way. The companies who had evinced interest in investment in the North Eastern Region during the course of the 3rd North East Business Summit (April 2007) form a significant part of the delegation.
Mr. Krik-Krai Jirapaet the Thai Commerce Minister and Mr. Piyabutr Cholvijarn, Deputy Minister Industry of Thailand along with more than 200 Thai Businessmen are participating in the various sessions with senior officials from the Ministries concerned.
The Indian officials/businessmen will interact with the Thai counterparts and will be having one to one discussions on the specific areas of interest for exploring the possibilities of investment and trade in the North East. The event starts today with the Inauguration of an Exhibition which showcases the products from the North Eastern States. The Inaugural Session includes addresses by Minister DONER, Minister of State of Industry, the Thai Commerce Minister and the Chief Ministers of North Eastern States. On the day 2, an exclusive sectoral Session on Tourism and Hospitality is being organized. It will be followed by addresses by Minister DoNER, Thai Commerce Minister and Plenary Session on other Sectors, Interactive Sessions between participants. The third day will be exclusively devoted to one-to-One Business discussions and for the feedback involving all the participants. The fourth day has been kept for field visits to specific areas in and around Bangkok for Food Processing Industry, Tourism & Hospitality etc.
The exhibition will continue during the week and the cultural evenings will be held on day one and two.
The Investment Week in Bangkok is a follow up of the 3rd North East Business Summit held in April, 2007 in collaboration with the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata. It was attended by more than 1000 delegates, which included dignitaries, officials and businessmen from India and abroad. The Thai Commerce Minister, Mr. Krirk-Krai Jirapaet as the Chief Guest along with his delegation had attended the Valedictory Session. In the course of the discussions at the Summit he had evinced business interests in the North East. Later, from 22-25 June 2007 along with a thirty five member delegation comprising of Thai Government Officials and Businessmen he visited the States of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. The visit was primarily to explore the potential of investment and trade in various sectors in the North Eastern States.
As Gandhi Jayanti falls during the period the Event is being held it has also been decided to commemorate the occasion in Bangkok through a simple ceremony which will form part of the Event.
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