Agartala: A two-day business summit to attract investment to the industry-starved northeastern India will be organised in the national capital Jan 9-10, Tripura Industry and Commerce Minister Jitendra Choudhury said here.
Organised by the ministry of development of north-eastern region (DoNER) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the 8th North East Business Summit is likely to see participation from investors and experts from abroad and various parts of the country. 
“Investors, businessmen, exporters and policy makers from different parts of India and abroad want to harness the region’s untapped resources,” Choudhury told IANS.
Bangladesh Industry Minister Dilip Barua and some other foreign dignitaries are likely to attend the summit, he said.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, DoNER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, several chief ministers and ministers of the northeastern states and top officials of various government departments are expected to attend the summit.
“Mineral, forest and human resource still remain untouched in northeast India. Tourism, health care, handloom and handicraft, agriculture, horticulture, food processing and infrastructure development are also high potential investment sectors in the region,” Choudhury said.
Investment and development of information technology, education, energy and border trade in the region will also be highlighted during the summit.
The region is adjacent to China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh, which Choudhury said was “an advantage for attracting foreign investment”.
During the summit, seminars, one-to-one meetings and exhibitions highlighting the scope for industries and resources offered by the region would also be held.
“The central and state governments are providing several incentives, subsidies and tax holidays for ventures in the northeastern region,” said Choudhury.
The central government’s incentive package scheme, first implemented in December 1997, was re-introduced as the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy in April 2007.
IANS
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Really hope there are more BUSINESS SUMMITS organized for NE (instead of one in a year) with invitation to global business councils and leaders!
The way a VIBRANT GUJARAT summit generates interest and excitement among investors and industrialists, a similar BRANDING effort and REACH is required for NE as well to have a real impact out of the business summits.
Couple of things which can be urgently acted upon:
1.Speed up all infrastructure projects with fast track solution to different hurdles (e.g land hurdle impacting Agartala International Airport, Udaipur (Tripura) rail connectivity)
2.Chalk out a similar strategy and action plan for BRNDING Northeast to global investors as done for MUMBAI, BANGALORE or GUJARAT.
For an instance to me TRIPURA is no less than a KARNATAKA or GUJARAT or MAHARASHTRA ; Yes the difference remains how TRIPURA is branded on its strengths and unique selling proposition.
TRIPURA being 2nd highest populous state in NE with higher percentage of literacy, incredibly rich in natural resources, sharing international border with Bangladesh and geographically acting as a prospective gateway to Southeast Asia) holds the potential to be a economic hub of NE and be a leader taking India’s charge towards contributing to a more stable and stronger global economy!!
Few facts on TRIPURA:
a.Second highest populous state in NE (with literacy rate close to 90%)
b.Upcoming Software technology park, Textile park, Food park
c.International boundary with Bangladesh
d.Connectivity through Bangladesh to reach rest of India and (prospective gateway to) Southeast Asia
e.Fast developing social infrastructures.
f.Upcoming Indian institute of information technology (IIIT)
g.Huge number of people already working in top MNCs in metros and can be real beneficiary for those willing to return back and work from home and at the same time guide and train young talented population as per global competitive requirement!
3.Induct experts from Corporate (e.g Ratan Tata, Narayanmurthy) in the think tank (or as BRAND AMBASSADORS) for making BRANDING plan of Northeast.
4.Transform from ‘NE have the potential’ approach to ‘NE shows the way’ attitude.
5.With due respect and appreciation for achievement so far , a more progressive, competitive and go getter approach (Gujarat can be taken as a reference) from state Govts in making respective NE states better than the developed states.
6.Build up a robust information system and educate people on them.
7.Promote innovation,Professional work culture (e.g in Bangalore or Mumbai hardly there are any impact on corporate daily work schedules due to any situation arising out of political/non-political conflicts).This actually plays a very important role for corporate and a key fact for attracting any industry as no one wants shut down of business and loss for a single day!
8.Set up all important Govt institutions in NE (e.g AIIMS hospital,Air Force/Navy/Army bases and headquarters, IIMs, IITs,IISc,Railway head quarters) with priority in each of NE states – this would give Northeast a level headed feeling compared to other states in the mainland! and also a base for more people to people contact and ground for stimulating more private investment from National and Global MNCs and corporate giants.
I strongly believe TRIPURA and other NE state govts (in close co-ordination with Center, other concerned dignitaries and all corporate vissionaries) can certainly achieve this sooner rather than late .. which would definitely give precious people of Northeast a better employment opportunities, a better healthcare, a better access to quality education, a quality lifestyle, and last but not the least a confident and connected TRIPURA & Northeast leading India’s charge towards contributing to a more stable and stronger global economy!!