First priority is to build greater road connectivity to boost trade with ASEAN countries: Rio
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 17
After the success of the first ASEAN-India car rally in 2004, the stage is set for the 2nd ASEAN-India car rally to commemorate 20 years of ASEAN-India relations.
Organized by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in close cooperation with members states of ASEAN, the car rally will be flagged off on November 26 in Indonesia and will pass through India and eight ASEAN countries covering a distance of around 8000 kms.
As part of preparation of the rally which will pass through capitals of three NE states, Ambassadors and leaders of ASEAN countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Lao are on a two-day visit to Nagaland.
At a press conference here held at the Chief Minister’s private residence Saturday evening, ASEAN leaders accompanied by MEA officials and CII representatives briefed the media on the objectives and other aspects of the rally.
Ambassador of Thailand, Pisan Manapawat, said their visit was not only about the car rally but also to experience the beauty of Nagaland and its people. He said that the ASEAN delegates have immensely enjoyed their two-day stay in Nagaland. “We are convinced that if fellow ASEAN citizens have easier access to this part, they will also enjoy the experience”, Manapawat said.
“We see Nagaland and Assam as a gateway to ASEAN countries. One could not have better hope to wish for Nagaland as a bridge to ASEAN countries”, the Thailand Ambassador said.
Manapawat said the ASEAN delegates also visited the NE Agri Expo and tasted famed pineapple and kiwi fruits of Nagaland and added that with better connectivity, the delicious fruits can be sampled by ASEAN countries overnight.
He further expressed optimism that by 2015, ASEAN countries would be a community of “free movement.” Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who also addressed the media, said that though the Government of India announced ‘Look East Policy’ in 1991, it took quite some time to kick-start. He said the first priority of the policy is to build greater road connectivity to boost trade with ASEAN countries.
Rio said the NE states have a lot of things in common with ASEAN countries including cultural affinity and geographical proximity. He said that though the NE Region is in one extreme part of the country, but from mainland India to ASEAN countries, the region including Nagaland become the “centre point.”
He said the car rally will go a long way in fostering better relations with ASEAN countries.
The Chief Minister assured the visiting ASEAN leaders that Nagaland state will do its best to take proper care of the participants of the rally.
Deputy Chief of Protocol, MEA, Dr. Sumit Seth and President, CII North-East, Dr. Aotoshi also briefed the media on the car rally.
Since the ‘Look East Policy’, partnership between India and ASEAN comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, started developing at a fast pace with India becoming a sectoral partner of ASEAN in 1992 and a full dialogue partner in 1996.
