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Guwahati, Nov 07 (HS): Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary interacted with members of the Malaysia India Business Council (MIBC) at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara.
Addressing the MIBC team members, Patowary hoped that with the visit of the Malaysian delegation, potentialities for a closer relationship shall blossom fully in the future. He highlighted the strengths and opportunities of the State and called upon the Malaysian delegation to invest in sectors like tea, hydrocarbons, transportation, food processing, bamboo, agar and infrastructure and skill development. ‘It is win–win opportunity for both the countries. If we work together, we can grow together’, added Patowary.
‘Apart from Business to Business (B2B) meets, it’s the Heart to Heart (H2H) connection that we share which will go a long way in building a strong partnership with Malaysia’, emphasized Patowary.
Assuring full support to the team, the Minister said, ‘You will not face red-tapism but red-carpet in all your dealings with the State agencies.The Indian Prime Minister during his recent visit to Bangkok in connection with the ASEAN-India Summit had reiterated our country’s commitment to the Act East Policy to leverage the proximity of North East Region to South East Asia’.
He further explained the steps taken to reconnect and restore the road links with expressways to ASEAN countries. The Asian Trilateral Highway shall establish direct linkage upto Kuala Lumpur and (Malaysia) & Singapore. Besides, the agreement between India and Bangladesh allowing the use of the Bangladesh Ports of Chittagong and Mongla for the vessels of North East India shall open up vistas of closer trade with ASEAN.
Patowary underlined the need to promote tourism, hotel industry and education sectors which will be mutually beneficial. Under the UDAN International scheme, direct flights have already been established between Guwahati and Bangkok and the Government plans to have direct flights from Guwahati to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Yangoon, Hanoi and Kathmandu as well.
Tan Ir. Kuna Sittampalam, President, Malaysia India Business Council, said that Malaysia is very keen to explore the immense potentialities in the State. ‘Malaysia is a leader in infrastructure, health care and transportation and the Centre’s Act East Policy will support our endeavours to invest in Assam.’
Dato’ Ramesh Kodammal, Co-Chairman, Asean India Business Council (AIBC) said that Malaysia is reworking on the Malaysia-India Free Trade to accelerate trade and investment with India.
Ashutosh Agnihotri, Commissioner and Secretary, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department; AP Tiwari, MD, ASTC; Manjula Bhuyan, Additional Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Pawan Thakur, Invest India and senior officials from various departments were present in the meeting.
