Representatives from Southeast Asian nations and business leaders of the country have pledged to contribute substantially for the socio-economic growth of the North East region at a two-day North East Business Summit in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Dato Paduka Haji Sidek Ali, the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam and chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), New Delhi Committee, said in his valedictory speech that only connectivity could bolster the trade and commerce activities in the region by giving easy access to market, investments and tourism potential of the region.

During the concluding session, Cambodia Secretary of State Tith Chantha called for improving relationship by promoting particularly the tourism sector for mutual benefit of ASEAN.

The Summit was organised under the aegis of the Union DoNER Ministry and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) at Dibrugarh University with the valedictory programme had the theme Building bridges with South East Asia.

Lim Thuan Kuan, High Commissioner from Singapore stressed on the importance of knowing how to implement projects. Siaosavath Savengsuka, Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR) said that ASEAN master plans and dreams can be realised only when there was direct link between India and Lao, Vietnam, Singapore and other South East Asia via Myanmar and Thailand.

The Summit Chairman and Union DoNER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar said that the central government was working with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand for fast implementation of the Trilateral Highway Project to improve connectivity so as to boost trade and investments among the countries.

“Special emphasis is required to be given to enhance sub-regional cooperation under the ambit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and ASEAN with greater in-built trade and people-to-people exchanges”, Ghatowar said in his valedictory speech.

During the day, several technical sessions on various subjects were held on energising the Northeast, agriculture and food, infrastructure and connectivity, higher education and skills development, tourism and IT and Financial Services.