North East News Agency

Minister of Tribal Affairs and DoNER P.R. Kyndiah inaugurated the “Third North East Trade Expo-2006” in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Theme of Expo is “India Northeast-Towards Economic Resurgence”. In his inaugural address, the Minister said that the Expo gives an opportunity to all the eight North Eastern States and their entrepreneurs to come together and showcase their unique products and highlight the vast potential for growth and development of this richly endowed region. He further said that the Ministry of DoNER is organizing the Trade Expo since 2004 with the help and cooperation of the ITPO. The Expo has become a highly significant event for not only direct trade and commerce but also for creating awareness about the rich investment potential of the Region, which would help the economy of the Region as well as the rest of the country.

Mr. Kyndiah pointed out that the North Eastern Region has remained isolated from the mainstream due to historical and geographical reasons. The Trade Expo helps in providing the necessary interaction and exposure to the Region and its people and helps overcome the feeling of alienation. He expressed hope that the present Expo is part of our continuing efforts to showcase the inherent skills and resources of this beautiful region. The Expo will provide a one-stop experience to explore the best of the products and services that the Region has to offer. I am happy to find that a number of Central Ministries and other organizations are participating in the Expo, I am informed that there will be cultural shows, film shows, dances, fashion show besides seminars on investments opportunities. I would like to complement the ITPO for their efforts in putting together a grand show, the Minister added.

The Secretary of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ms. Meena Gupta, the Secretary of DoNER, Ms. Gauri Chatterji and Mr. N.N. Khanna, the chairman and Managing Director of ITPO were also present in the function. Each day of the 8-day long Expo will be earmarked as the day for a particular North Eastern state, when apart from general show, events special to the state will be highlighted.

Meanwhile, in the face of mounting criticism, DoNER has denied holding up sanctions of any projects, laying the blame instead on the North-Eastern states for delaying submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The Ministry, which often comes under fire from the States, has sought to clear the air by maintaining that the delay was not caused in clearing projects submitted by the NES under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) but some delay was caused by the State governments in submission of DPRs.

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