S Pangnyu Phom, Minister of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland speaking at the “India-Cambodia Business Conclave” held at Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 13.
Dimapur, June 16 (MExN): Minister of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland, S. Pangnyu Phom attending the recently held “India-Cambodia Business Conclave” at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, stated that the North East sees itself as the crucial economic and cultural link, with diverse potential, between India and South East Asia with regards to the Look East Policy.
“A business conclave such as this has great significance, and it is our firm commitment to convert potentials and opportunities into economic realities that will be beneficial for both the people of Cambodia and the people of North East India,” he said to the audience at the Conclave held on June 13.
Phom stated that the development of North East Region of India “has not reached the desired level”. While inviting the people of Cambodia and its Government for the Hornbill Festival slated for this year, he suggested the Royal Government of Cambodia to start looking at this region as a business opportunity.
Phom mentioned that the region has vital geo-political location, with 92% of its borders being accounted for by international boundaries. He also mentioned it has vast untapped natural resources, and a rich social capital. He cited that these were some of the reasons why India was today paying special attention for the development of the region, with a new ‘Look East Policy’. “North East India, in general, and Nagaland, in particular, offers industrialists and business houses of Cambodia opportunities to be part of the emerging Indian economy,” he said.
Recounting the strategic location of the region as exemplified by the ‘Battle of Kohima’ that changed the tide of the Second World War, Phom said that this was the crucial battle to control the Moreh-Imphal-Kohima-Dimapur road that opens up South East Asia to the plains of India. “Today, we are not talking of war with guns and bombs, but the geographic importance of the region remain unchanged, especially in the context of the emerging global market economy. North East India in general, and Nagaland in particular, offer the industrialists and the business houses of Cambodia opportunities to be part of the emerging Indian economy,” he said.
Attempting to attract investors, Phom has also claimed that Nagaland’s GDP stands at 15% and that its “road network, the power systems, as also the coverage of the various social services, such as schools, hospitals and the water supply systems are comparable to most other parts of India.” He has also quoted a high literacy rate as well as high agricultural growth as attractions to the North East. Other things on his list included scope for investment in tourism and Nagaland’s multiple natural resources. Phom also cited Nagaland’s “communitisation” of public institutions as being “hailed countrywide”.
Phom added that the Government of India has accorded approval for the setting up of two Special Economic Zones in Nagaland, which will be the first of its kind in the entire North East Region of India. One will be a Multi Product Special Economic Zone in the private sector to be promoted by HN Company, and located in the outskirts of Dimapur, over 400 Hectares. The other will be an Agro Food Processing Special Economic Zone, spread over 125 acres of land in the outskirts of Dimapur.
The Conclave was attended by Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Royal Government of Cambodia His Excellency Suy Sem, Minister for DoNER, Government of India, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Minister of Industries, Commerce & Power, Government of Assam Prodyut Bordoloi, Minister of Industries & Tourism, Government of Mizoram, Pu Hiato, the Ambassador of India to Cambodia, Dinesh Patnaik, Chairman, North East Initiative, ICC M. K. Saharia, President of ICC-Cambodia Debasish Pattnaik, senior officials of the various Government, corporate leaders and captains of industries and several others.
