Imphal: President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said the development of Northeast is India's "shared enterprise", and urged friendly countries to contribute substantially to the development of the region.
"The development of the Northeast is India's development. We have to tap the potential," Kovind said while inaugurating the two-day Northeast Development Summit at the city convention centre here.
The President also opened the 10-day Sangai festival, an annual event to promote tourism in the state.
Kovind said Manipur is India's window to Southeast Asia and an effective partnership between the Centre and state government could make the state a paradise for tourists. He urged the sportspersons of the state to realise their potential.
Stating that the region is the gateway to the Asian countries, he said the Centre's approach to the Northeast is urgent enhancement of connectivity.
He said the Centre had taken up 100 road projects in the Northeast. Kovind added that the Northeast Tourism Development Council, in partnership with private sectors, will make the region India's leading tourism destination.
Bangladesh's civil aviation and tourism minister Rashid Khan Menon, who attended the summit, said it was a unique opportunity to showcase the development potential of the Northeast.
He said Bangladesh was ready to be an active partner in its development activities.
Minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha announced that the Centre would develop 19 new airports in the region, including at Assam's Rupsi, Manipur's Moreh and Meghalaya's Tura.
Chief ministers of Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, Sarbananda Sonowal, T.R. Zeliang and Pema Khandu respectively also attended the programme. They urged the Centre to adopt comprehensive programmes to develop the region.
"The Centre is requested to take measures to end flood and erosion. We in the Northeast will work as a family to make the region an organic hub and growth engine of the country," Sonowal said.
Union commerce and industries minister Suresh Prabhu, the minister of state for tourism K.J. Alphons, tourism minister Rashid Khan Menon, Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar Sharma were among those on the dais.
The summit was organised by the India Foundation, Manipur government and the Centre.
A host of foreign dignitaries and 175 delegates are attending the summit. Altogether 36 Indian firms are also attending the summit.
The festival and business summit are in the midst of a strike called by militant groups to boycott the President's visit. The city virtually remained shut on Tuesday.
