The 3rd India-Japan Intellectual Conclave organised by Shillong based premier think tank Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan started in Agartala on Tuesday evening.
India’s DoNER (Development of the North Eastern Region) Minister G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State, External Affairs and Education Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Industry Minister of Tripura Santana Chakma, Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Ambassador of Japan in India Hiroshi Suzuki, several other dignitaries and intellectuals were present in the two days conclave and on the inaugural day they discussed on the theme of “North East India, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal in the Indo Pacific: Building Partnerships : The Way Forward”.
The discussion aimed at developing connectivity, economy growth and trade of the North-eastern states that enjoys close proximity to the Bay of Bengal and through Bangladesh using the sea ports especially the upcoming Matabari deep sea port being constructed with assistance of Japan.
The speakers discussed on enhancing partnership between Northeaster region and Bangladesh to enable exponential benefits to the region and in total harmony to India’s “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” policies.
Various other issue like Japan as development partner of Bangladesh and India, reconnecting vibrant maritime space in the vibrant Indo-Pacific, promoting vast value chain potentials of Northeaster region through better multi-modal connectivity in the strategic location of region which shares border with Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh were discussed.
Discussions were also there on how Tripura can act as a new gateway between India’s Northeastern region to East and South East Asia and with the opening of the Maitri Setu built over rive Feni at Sabroom connecting to Chattogram port in Bangladesh.
The speaker viewed that there is enormous possibility for trade, investment, cultural contacts and efforts towards holistic conservation of the fragile biodiversity of the region on it getting connected to Bay of Bengal and which will help in developing stronger-bonds of friendship and trust between the two neighbors India and Bangladesh.
