Guwahati, Nov. 18: Assam industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today said the Northeast should become the hub for Southeast Asia so that companies from there can invest in the region.

He was speaking at a seminar on the occasion of India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Car Rally, which will be ceremonially flagged off from Guwahati tomorrow.

The car rally was flagged off from New Delhi on November 13.

The objective of the rally is to improve road connectivity in Southeast Asia and sensitise the stakeholders of India, Myanmar and Thailand Motor Vehicle Agreement regarding potential benefits of such a regulatory regime. The rally is in consonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East Policy to improve relations with the neighbouring countries.

The rally caravan will cover a distance of 5,722km along the IMT Trilateral Highway with about 80 participants from all the three countries in 20 vehicles on a journey from New Delhi to Bangkok over 19 days. A ceremonial flag-off will also be held in other cities and state capitals en route like Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Patna, Siliguri, Guwahati, Shillong, Kohima and Imphal in India, Began and Yangoon in Myanmar and Bangkok in Thailand.

The rally will conclude in Bangkok on December 2 with the hope that it will further cement cultural and economic ties among the three nations and highlight the potential benefits of connectivity and integration in the region and in keeping with India's focus on its neighbours.

Patowary said the state government is preparing the ground so that investors can come. Now it is up to the players to come and play," he said.

Industries commissioner Ravi Capoor said these rallies have an important message to convey that the region is much closer to Asean nations.

"The only way that the Northeast can prosper is through opening of trade routes," he said.

Rudra Chatterjee, vice-president, Indian Chamber of Commerce, flagged the issues of road connectivity in Assam, which leaves much to be desired.