Japan always gives priority to developing the northeast region of India and increasing trade and economic activities with the neighbouring Bangladesh, Japan's Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki said here on Tuesday.
Addressing the 3rd India-Japan Intellectual Conclave on the theme of "North East India, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal in the Indo-Pacific: Building Partnerships - The Way Forward" here, he said that in the Bay of Bengal region, comprising Bangladesh, northeast region of India and West Bengal, 300 million people are living ensuring a good prospect of trade and economy.
"Bangladesh could be the industrial hub of the Bay of Bengal region. We need industries and investment in the region for the economic growth of the region and it would resolve many issues including the unemployment problem," Suzuki said.
He said that Bangladesh's under construction Matarbari deep sea port (in Cox's Bazar of south east Bangladesh) after completion of commissioning in 2027 would give a big push to the water connectivity between the Bay of Bengal region and the rest of the world.
The Shillong based "Asian Confluence", a premier think tank of India organised the two-day (Tuesday-Wednesday) conclave, where Union DoNER (Development of the North Eastern Region) Minister G.Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for External Affairs Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh, Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bangladesh Shahriar Alam also spoke.
The Japanese Ambassador also said that his Prime Minister Fumio Kishida earlier discussed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi the joint development of the northeastern region of India while many JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) projects are now under implementations in the region.
"Northeast India and Bangladesh value change would prosper both the countries. Use of the upcoming Matarbari deep sea port and existing Chhattagram and Mongla port in Bangladesh would help to a great extent to the region. Both Bangladesh and the northeast region of India have a win win prospect," he said.
Suzuki said that around 338 Japanese companies are working in Bangladesh and Japan Bangladesh economic partnership would be further strengthened and expanded in the near future.
Asian Confluence Executive Director Sabyasachi Dutta said that the conclave brought together a galaxy of senior policymakers, diplomats, businesses and academic institutions to make an assessment on the topic of northeast India and Bangladesh multimodal connectivity in the context of India-Japan collaboration in the Bay of Bengal region with a special focus on Tripura and the adjoining northeastern states as a connectivity hub of the future.
Terrorist movement detected along LoC in J&K's Poonch, firing exchange on
Alert troops detected terrorist movement along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Khari Karmara area of J&K’s Poonch district on Thursday after which a firing exchange broke out between the soldiers and the terrorists and is still on, the Army said.
Budget session of Parliament kicks off tomorrow
The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on Friday (January 31) with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman scheduled to table the Economic Survey after President Droupadi Murmu addresses the joint session of both Houses in the morning.
PM Modi shares glimpses of his journey towards Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a series of captivating pictures highlighting his key engagements throughout January, showcasing India's journey towards a "Viksit Bharat".
No survivors yet of mid-air Washington DC collision
No survivors have yet been found of American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan National Airport in Washington DC Wednesday night.
Will make proposals based on NE’s socio-economic & geographical situations: Arvind Panagariya
The 16th Finance Commission while making its recommendations would keep in mind the socio-economic and geographical situations of the northeastern states, the panel chairman Arvind Panagariya said here on Thursday.
Assam Rifles, Tripura Police seize drugs worth Rs 6 crore
Assam Rifles, in coordination with police, conducted a joint operation and seized and destroyed ganja (marijuana) plantations worth around Rs 6 crore in Tripura, officials said on Thursday.
CPI-M has mastery in misleading people: Tripura CM Saha
Tripura Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Manik Saha on Wednesday slammed the opposition CPI-M, stating that the party is a "master in misleading people", and it never acknowledges development.
Countdown to oust BJP, IPFT and Tipra Motha from power started: Tripura CPIM
In a show of political strength, the Tripura CPIM organized a massive gathering near Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan at Agartala; with state committee secretary Jitendra Chaudhury declaring that the countdown for the BJP, IPFT, and Tipra Motha’s rule in Tripura has begun.