IMPHAL, November 10: Research and Strategic Development Organisation for the Northeast today organised a round table on Indo-Myanmar synergy in socio-economic and cultural development – the voice of the third space. The round table was organised at Hotel Imphal.
Former chief minister of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam, who is also the president of Research and Strategic Development Organisation for the North East (RESDOR-NE) said that efforts have been made to bond Northeast India especially Manipur and Nagaland with Myanmar in economic and cultural development through India’s Look East Policy.
He said that the efforts can only be addressed to the levels of government to government and government to business houses for the promotion of commerce and industries of the said states.
He continued that for the upliftment of cultural development there needs a third space for People to People (P2P) interface, mainly of small businesses, civil organisations, and individuals for active and fruitful exchanges, co-operation and synergy.
Further he said that the present Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has initiated a process to foster good relations with neighbouring countries with the strong message that India cares for good, friendly, genuine, lasting and mutual beneficial relations with them.
Radahabinod pointed out that the PM’s upcoming visit to Myanmar for 12th ASEAN – India Summit and the 9thEast Asian Summit is expected to chip in for more improved relation in trade and commerce including P2P model.
He urged the people of Northeast of India to extract maximum benefit from the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ policy with his innovative idea of skill, scope and scale (3Ss), before adding that the Round Table is a step towards building cooperation and synergy among the people of India and ASEAN countries, in particular our immediate neighbour, Myanmar.
The programme was also attended by P. P. Srivastava, member, Advisory Council, Asian Confluence Centre and former member, NEC, former advisor to Government of Manipur and Sabyasachi Dutta, director, Asian Confluence.