The Chief Ministers of the North Eastern region tried to put their best foot forward, while acknowledging that problem areas remained. Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi addressing the Summit briefly touched on his Government’s achievements like holding the 33rd National Games, laying of the foundation stone of the gas cracker project, the ASEAN Car Rally among others. He also praised the Congress leadership including former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.

Asserting that Look East Policy would be a boon for the region, Gogoi, however, cautioned that the Policy itself might not work for North-East unless the infrastructure is upgraded and technical skills honed in.

He said the perception outside was wrong and businessmen themselves should visit the region. “Outside perception that the region is trouble prone is absolutely wrong. Today there are over 9-10 flights out of the region. In fact, barring the metros, the number of flights in the North-East is perhaps highest in the country,” he said.

Gogoi also admitted that rural connectivity and unemployment were problem areas. He further informed that State Government was focusing on agriculture sector. The rural economy has to improve,” he said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister, D D Lapang held that because of the activities of underground outfits from Assam and the local underground outfit ANVC, the Garo Hills area has acquired a bad name amongst intending investors. Hardly any investment has taken place in this region of Meghalaya during the last five or six years. He was referring to the security environment in the three Garo Hill districts.

However, Lapang gave an impressive view of the industrial scenario in his State. Meghalaya have set up the ‘single window’ system for speedy clearances of industrial proposals. During the last financial year we exported goods worth Rs 184 crore mainly to Bangladesh.’

The cement factory at Cuttack in Bangladesh runs on limestone dispatched from Meghalaya through an aerial ropeway. Currently Lafarge Surma has requested for permission to transport limestone from Meghalaya for 2 million tonne cement project proposed to be set up in Bangladesh,” he divulged.

Chief Minister of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh, poured out his woes to the investors, listing problems faced by the State one after another. An IT Park in Hyderabad consumes 10 MW of electricity, while the entire State of Manipur has to make do with 12 MW of power. It is not possible to set up any projects in Manipur unless power situation improves.

He also lamented that the 33,000 km East-West Corridor terminated in Silchar. Why was the Project not extended right up to Moreh. In case of natural calamity, Manipur would remain cut off from rest of the country. How can entrepreneurs come to Manipur when it remained cut off,” he asked.

There is no rail head, no road, so how they will bring raw material,” he questioned.
He traced the root cause of the State’s problems to unemployment and lack of employment opportunity.

The Chief Minister also questioned the rationale behind the Inner Line Permit System. When a extremist affected State like Jammu and Kashmir does not have this Protected Area Permit, why should it remain in force in the North-East, he asked, demanding its withdrawal.  

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