GUWAHATI, Oct 14 - Trade relations required for trade capacity building include a wide variety of activities, but essentially involve sharing technical knowledge on policy development, building functioning and efficient institutions, harmonising standards, reducing barriers to entry, and creating an attractive investment climate to attract businesses. With these objectives, a two-day national conference on �Trade relations in North East India: Problems and Prospects� was organised by the Department of Commerce, Assam University, Silchar, jointly sponsored by Assam University and ICSSR-NERC. This was stated in a press release.
Dr Joyeeta Deb, Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, gave a brief introduction of the keynote speaker, Prof Vijay Kumar Shrotryia of the Delhi School of Economics. In his key- note address, Prof Shrotryia, spoke about the curriculum of commerce and Contact Learning from the north-eastern region of India. He delved on the overall industrial development rather than trade development in the region. Though the NER has covered only 7 per cent of geographical area of land, it contributes 2 to 3 per cent of total GDP of India. The main issues thwarting development in the NE region is the spread of misinformation.
In his presidential address, Prof Dilip Chandra Nath, Vice-Chancellor, Assam University said that North-east India is considered as one of the most backward regions in India even in terms of trade and industry. The future development of the region is greatly dependent on her inter-state relationship and her relationship with the people across the border. So the topic of the seminar is very relevant looking as per the present juncture.
In his welcome address, Prof PJ Goswami, Head, Dept of Commerce, said that department is regularly organising these sort of conferences and seminar since the past few years.
Briefing newsmen, Dr AD Yarso, convener of the seminar said the positivism in the intra and inter-State trade relations in north-eastern States can transform the poorest region of the country into a vibrant regional economy which shares borders with four foreign countries. Regional integration is essential for the growth of the economy, but currently trading partners of this region are not able to fully take advantage of regional markets because of inadequate roads and ports. Without adequate access to electricity, many regional businesses and farmers struggle to keep their operations functioning, he said.
