The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Tourism & Culture – G. Kishan Reddy asserted that developing infrastructure, skilling & capacity-building are the crucial prerequisites to boost tourism across the northeastern regions.
Addressing the North Eastern Council (NEC)’s 70th Plenary meeting at Guwahati, Reddy highlighted several important issues critical to the growth and development of the region.
“The Central Government has been working relentlessly to establish peace and stability, enhance connectivity in the region and have attained considerable success as well. PM Narendra Modi firmly believes that the nation cannot develop, without the advancement of northeastern regions,” – he stated.
He asserted that northeast India has entered its ‘Amrit Samay’ and “we need to take complete advantage of this and awaken all possibilities of growth and development.”
The minister called-upon the concerned stakeholders – Centre, States, private sector to collaboratively work on further enhancing infrastructure and connectivity in the region.
He stated that complete and targeted utilization of the 10% GBS for the NER States is the key to rapid development.
“Regular analysis of 10% GBS utilization needs to be done and accordingly reorienting of policies, overcoming data bottlenecks and striking coordination with central line ministries must be done,” he added.
Therefore, he urged all state government officers to give their recommendations to ensure effective utilization, such as amending policies, guidelines etc.
Taking to Twitter, Reddy wrote “Addressed the 70th Plenary of the @NEC_GoI in Guwahati today. During my address to the Chief Secretaries & Sr officers from the NE States, emphasized on the need for all bodies to come together to take the ‘whole of government’ approach in making NE a suitable destination for investment opportunities. Spoke on the constitution of Tourism Task Force by @MDoNER_India to ensure realization of complete potential of the region Urged to organize a Global Investors Summit for NER to explore & showcase its vast potential in various sectors.”
destination for investment opportunities. Spoke on the constitution of Tourism Task Force by @MDoNER_India to ensure realization of complete potential of the region
Urged to organize a Global Investors Summit for NER to explore & showcase its vast potential in various sectors pic.twitter.com/pLQH6fF68S
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) October 8, 2022
He said that an Agri Task Force which was recently constituted shall soon release its final report. He said that the task force findings must be leveraged to ensure that complete utilization in this financial year.
The Minister also suggested that there is a need to conduct a “strengths and weaknesses analysis” and “identify gaps in key sectors”. This would help in more targeted developmental initiatives. He further added that while selecting project factors such as NER district-wise SDG index, aspirational districts, connectivity to rural habitations and areas and level of poverty indices should be taken into consideration. He also urged the officials to ensure good tendering norms and robust monitoring.
Reflecting on tourism potential of the region, the minister informed that the DoNER ministry is constituting a Tourism Task Force to ensure realization of complete potential of the region; and highlighted that we must also explore the potential offered by security services industry to generate employment among the youth in the NER.
The Minister further emphasized the need for private investment; and stated that central and state governments need to jointly work to develop an investment-friendly environment in the NER.
He suggested that a few top-priority/target sectors need to be identified and work on increasing investment potential of the region and overcoming bottlenecks in those sectors.
Reddy noted that a ‘Global Investors Summit’ for NER should be organized soon and all state governments should start undertaking measures for developing an investor friendly ecosystem.
Various measures such as changing the policies to suit the needs of investors, digitizing land banks, having plot level information, simplifying processes, providing single window clearance system, developing inventory of readily investible projects, establishing an investors’ facilitation centre in each State, investing on supporting infrastructure like approach roads, power connectivity, water supply etc, must be undertaken.
He called-upon the senior officials to work on the aforementioned create an action plan for the Global Investors Summit in the coming months.
