IMPHAL, July 8: The international conference on Tourism which was recently held in Myanmar is a clear indication of the success of the Prime Minister`™s vision of Act East Policy, said BJP national executive council member Tapir Gao who is also the chief advisor of the Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance, today.
He was speaking to media persons after returning from the conference.
Gao said the journey to Mandalay was a gratifying experience as the team felt at home throughout the journey.
He said even after crossing the international border into Myanmar, we could only see same faces along the roadside till Mandalay where the conference was held.
It was also a surprise for me to learn that there is a Meitei population of around 25 thousand in Myanmar and even a separate Manipuri village, he said.
It seems that the entire traditional costumes of Myanmar have been supplied by the Meitei weavers of the land, Gao continued.
Showrooms in Mandalay city were mostly run by the Meiteis population of the area, he added.
Gao also continued that they found Meiteis, Nagas, Kuki and other communities of the North Eastern States residing in Mandalay.
This also means that the Act East Policy of the Prime Minister will be a grand success not only in terms of trade and commerce and tourism, but in developing social connection between the two countries, he observed.
He further asked the State government to initiate steps with the Centre to improve relations with Myanmar.
He continued that the Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance and the Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress will demand from the Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to provide visa on arrival facilities for Myanmar, development of infrastructure of immigration office, strengthen its staff and to start the bus service between Imphal and Mandalay at the earliest.
He said steps should be initiated by the State government with the support of the Centre.
Indian Toursim and Hospitality Congress (NE) India president Dr Meinam Binota the main objective of the team participating in the international conference was to strengthen the socio-cultural and historical ties between Manipur and Myanmar and at the same time gain the economic benefits of tourism.
She said tourism can generate jobs, conserve environment in the State.
The main motto and target of ITHC is to implement those theoretical frame works and policy programme into reality through Meeting Inventive Conference Event (MICE) tourism programme.
But it was very unfortunate that no delegates of Manipur and India governments were present in such an international conference, she said adding that the Mandalay authorities had accorded much respect to the delegate attending the conference.
She continued that the international conference would not have been successful with the help and support of Indian Consultant General in Myanmar Nandakumar and Indian Ambassador Mukhrapadai.
Meanwhile Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance president RK Shivchandra said the delegate from the country had also held a marathon discussion with Indian Consultant General Nandakumar and Indian Ambassador Mukhrapadai and discussed a plan to conduct a Nalanda University conference in Rangoon in October under the theme to make South East Asia free from drug routes and on how to develop the bilateral ties between India and Myanmar.
He said a women`™s football tournament will be organised in Mandalay to be participated by seven teams including from Sikkim, North East XI and Myanmar XI with support from Mukhradai.