ITANAGAR, Feb 16 - The Arunachal Pradesh government will form a committee for development of Stillwell Road and urge the Centre to reopen the historic road.
The road will be mutually beneficial for India and Myanmar. It will further deepen the age-old cultural linkage and help promote spiritual tourism in the region, stated Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein while gracing the Oriah festival of the Wancho community here today.
�The Northeast region is the gateway to ASEAN countries and Myanmar,� Mein said, emphasising on reopening of Stilwell Road, also known as Ledo Road.
If reopened, it would act as a catalyst for cross-border trade, he said.
Mein further stated that the Centre�s �Act East Policy� is also about improving people-to-people contact which is fundamentally envisaged for building socio-cultural relations, increasing trade ties, promoting tourism and developing the economy of the Southeast Asian region through outreach initiatives.
�The State has the potential to become one of the tourist hotspots of the country, but the need of the hour is to utilise the natural resources to our advantage in order to draw more tourists,� he said.
�Arunachal Pradesh is a land of many tribes, and each and every tribe has their own distinct cultural identity,� said Mein, who called upon the youths to promote, preserve and protect their age-old tradition and culture.
He said that it was during such festivals, the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the State can be showcased.
�I must commend the Wancho community for jealously preserving and protecting their rich cultural heritage despite the challenges posed by modernisation and western influence,� he added.
