Guwahati, May 29: Speaking at the NADI 3 Asian Confluence River Conclave 2022 in Guwahati India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that the connectivity with Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian nations can be built and developed culturally in terms of riverine civilisation.

The finance minister also appreciated the organisers for focusing on the key areas for development.

“Not just this region but the connectivity with the entire South East Asian nations can be built and developed culturally in terms of the civilisation… riverine civilisation, we have so much in common and we have also to leverage it so that people to people contact gets built up,” Sitharaman said while delivering the Special Lecture on the concluding day of the conclave.

“Government of India is fully committed to our Neighbourhood First Policy as much as developing the Northeast as the Gateway to the entire South East Asian nations.”

The Union Finance Minister has also appreciated the organisers – Asian Confluence – for focusing on the five Cs which are – Commerce, Culture, Connectivity, Conservation and Capacity Building.

“The organisers have kept five Cs as its focus areas. I was so impressed that they could pick up all that Cs and actually these Cs focus on those critical areas in which enough focus has to be given. If NADI and the name itself is talking about inter-connectivity, it certainly builds on culture and commerce,” she added.

Sitharaman further added: “So these five Cs give us the five pillars that this conclave will have to focus on. These Cs essentially capture all the areas which are so critical for our Northeast.”  

The Union Finance Minister also mentioned the Government of India’s projects to enhance the connectivity in Northeast India and its neighbouring countries. She said the Centre is implementing various rail, road and air connectivity projects worth Rs 1,34,200 crore in the Northeast.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma who delivered the Special Remarks shared the vision of the state government of developing Assam as a river cruise hub in Asia.

“We've made our best efforts to give tangible shape to our connectivity with Bangladesh and ASEAN nations through road, rail and air,” Sarma said.

He also thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama for her gracious presence at the valedictory session of the conclave for promoting sub-regional cooperation in the BBIN, ASEAN and BIMSTEC regions.

At this special session, Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, Chairman of Governing Council, Asian Confluence MP Bezbaruah and Executive Director of Asian Confluence Sabyasachi Dutta were also present.

The valedictory session on Sunday was attended by Minister of State for Education and External Affairs, Government of India, Dr RK Ranjan and State Minister of Planning, Government of Bangladesh Prof Shamsul Alam among others.   

Earlier on Saturday, the two-day conclave started with the participation of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Memon, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, High Commissioner of Singapore to India Simon Wong, Ambassador of Cambodia to India Ung Sean, Assam Minister of Trade, Industry and Act East Affairs Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chairman of Governing Council, Asian Confluence MP Bezbaruah and Executive Director of Asian Confluence Sabyasachi Dutta among others.  

About NADI:

NADI is an initiative to articulate and activate a collective vision of sub-regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region and with South-East Asia. It recognizes the region south of Himalayas from Ganga, Brahmaputra to Mekong as a contiguity of river basins with common challenges that require close cooperation beyond their political borders.

It is also aimed at building confidence in the key role of North-Eastern Indian region in taking forward strategic initiatives for energy and water security in the neighbourhood, and the Bay of Bengal region leading towards a vibrant and secure Indo-Pacific. (Ends)