Assam Govt. set up first summit on December 21 to attract 6000 Assam NRIs

Assam Govt seeks NRI help in development
Guwahati, Aug. 18, 2007
(PTI):

The Assam Government has decided to woo NRI investors to contribute to the economic development of the region.

"There are more than 6000 Assam NRIs who can contribute a lot to the economy and thus the government has decided to invite them to partitipate in the first ever "North East NRI Summit" to be held in December", industry minister Pradyut Bordoloi told reporters here today.

The minister said the two-day summit to start on December 21 here, will focuss on key areas of information techonology, rural techonology, health care, energy, education, market channels, urban development and tourism.

Chief Minsiter Tarun Gogoi had recently visited US and UK to meet the NRIs and they have readily agreed to participate in the development of the region, he said.

The Confedration of Indian Industries (CII), has been given the responsibility of organising the summit, Bordoloi said.

The minister announced that the Thailand government has invited a delegation from the North Eastern region to participate in the "North East Investment week" in Bangkok to be held from October 1 to 4.

Bordoloi said Chief Minister Gogoi will lead a high level trade delegation to Bangkok to participate in the meet which will be also attended by representatives of the trade bodies of the region.

Stating that the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICCI) has given the responsibility to finalise the delegates list, the minister said the thrust will be on investment.

"The focus areas will be construction of infrastructure, power, inland water transport, tourism, processed food, horticulture, rubber, information technology, bamboo and handloom and handicrafts", he said.

The government, he said,is also going ahead with the plan to hold the India International Tea Convention in Guwahati and Jorhat from November 22 to 25.

The convention to be organised by the Tea Board and Indian Tea Association will focus on the need to help the unorganised small tea planters to compete in the international level, Bordoloi said.