'NE will be favourite tourist & trade hub' Says Dr Jitendra Singh

* 69th Plenary of NEC concludes

* Focus on development of region

SHILLONG: The 69th Plenary of the North Eastern Council came to a successful conclusion here on Sunday. The Plenary was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 23.

The two-day NEC Plenary focussed on the all-round developmental plans for the north-eastern region (NER) and discussed the progresses made so far in various projects that have been implemented in the region. Augmenting investments and improving rankings on ease of doing business also got deliberated upon prominently. In various technical sessions, discussion centred on the developmental projects related to livelihood, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, connectivity and other related areas in North East.

Addressing the valedictory session, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of developing the Northeast region and bringing it to the level of the other developed States.

DrJitendra Singh acknowledged that the Northeast has been put on a fast track of development under the leadership of the Prime Minister during the last six-seven years and this bears evidence in the form of the unanimous opinion across the country that Northeast has been put on a very fast track. He also added that the expectation is very high and the Prime Minister wanted to achieve more than what have been achieved so far. He expressed his belief that with the dedication of all the States and various Ministries, the Northeast will be able to overcome all challenges in the near future. He said that he takes pride in having been able to walk the talk and live up to the expectations, in fact, rising above all other expectations with the help of the DoNER Ministry's colleagues and all the stakeholders.

Dr Jitendra Singh patiently heard the presentations that were made by the senior officials of various Ministries and Departments of the Central Government and requested the Secretaries of the Ministries to offer all possible assistance to the States of the North East.

DrJitendra Singh added that the NER will lead the growth story of India, when the rest of the world is looking for economic resurgence through trade in the post-pandemic times. Dr Singh also said that the region will be one of the favourite business destinations of India post-COVID-19 adding that bamboo is going to be the key pillar of the economic activities. He however asked all the States to make the optimum use of the favourable condition that the North East will have during the post-COVID period.

The Minister urged all the States to utilize the funds that have been allotted by various ministries so that the benefits of the schemes reach to the last person. The Minister also said that the rate of utilisation of funds under NEC has been encouraging; and hoped that the funds under other ministries allotted to the region shall also be brought to the optimum utilisation. (PIB

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