The Hindu Business Line : Reaching out to the border

In terms of topography, there is much in common between some of our border regions, such as the North-East, and our neighbouring countries, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. Recent policy initiatives, both by New Delhi and Thailand, for instance, have shown that there is also an economic complementarity spanning national borders which, if exploited sensibly, could lead to mutual economic benefits for all the parties involved.

From this perspective, Bangkok’s latest initiative to explore investment possibilities in the North-East is a move in the right direction, a 30-member Thai business delegation having recently visited Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya to find out the scope for investment in the region. In fact, according to the Union Minister for the Development of the North-East Region (DoNER), Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, the discussions have opened up the prospects of substantial Thai investment in infrastructure (mainly roads) and tourism, the latter being specially attractive to Bangkok for more than one reason. As Mr Aiyar rightly pointed out, the mountainous and cool North-East is naturally blessed with tourist spots that can complete with the best in the world. The area is also easily within easy reach of Thailand, a Cheng Mai-Imphal flight taking less time than a Kolkata-Imphal trip. What is required to make the plans bear fruit is a careful selection of potential tourist spots, in which the Thais (with their expertise in tourism) have already expressed an interest, and then improving the road connectivity and accommodation facilities. New Delhi can set the ball rolling by speeding up discussions on this project which, among other things, would substantially bolster the North-East’s economy.

In fact, the focus on the North-East is not only confined to the four-day “road-show” planned in Bangkok early in October (to be attended by the Chief Ministers of all the north-eastern States, in addition to Mr Aiyar and the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh) but also extends to a one-day meeting in New York later this month (a North-East Investment Opportunity Day), the target of both being to place the North-East on the world investment map. Recently, Mr Jairam Ramesh has pointed to the scope for investment in food-processing that exists in other border areas such as Leh, Kargil and Ladakh for developing products such as seabuckthorn and apricot, not to mention value-addition to pashmina. Clearly, the plans are unexceptionable, but given the political fragility of the region, their implementation will test even the most enthusiastic and resourceful investor.

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