The Hindu Business Line : Centre to review incentives for industries in N-E

THE Union Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region will soon re-examine the package of incentives for industries in the north eastern region, according to Mr P.R. Kyndiah, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region.

Speaking at a "Tourism Conclave: Destination North-East" held here on Sunday as part of the 53rd annual convention of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), he said the incentives available to industry in the North East need to be more "competitive and comfortable."

He said no panel has yet been formed to re-examine the package of incentives that are currently available.

However, a better package of incentives would be needed to facilitate infrastructure creation and economic prosperity in the North-East.

Mr Kyndiah said all the eight State Governments in the north eastern region needed to pool in their resources with a view to promoting and fully exploiting the vast potential of tourism in the region.

He said that, besides being the "engine of growth," tourism had the potential to create the largest number of jobs. "Our focus in the North-East is on ensuring peace, development and creation of jobs," he said adding that perceptions of the insurgency problem in the region were exaggerated.

"There is a need to shed apprehension that the North-East is plagued by insurgency. There are only pockets of insurgency but the major part of the region is peaceful. Our focus is to contain insurgency in the existing pockets," he said.

States in the North-East were upbeat about fostering trade relations with countries in the region, such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. "The North-East has the potential to be the "economic bridge" between India and South-East Asia," according to him.

In his address, Lt Gen Ajai Singh, Governor of Assam, said the perception of law and order and insurgency in the north eastern region was grossly exaggerated.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of Indian Chamber of Commerce, Mr Anup Singh, said the Indian Chamber, in partnership with the Ministry, has taken several initiatives to facilitate economic growth in the North-East. "We also believe that the tourism sector can significantly transform the economic potential in the region," he said.

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