bdnews24.com :
Investors from Bangladesh are most welcome to set up production units in Tripura, says the state’s chief minister Manik Sarkar.
Sarkar says his state is grateful to the present government in Bangladesh for several reasons — for allowing shipment of heavy equipment needed to set up the 726 MW gas-fired power plant at Palatana and also agreeing to allow 10000 MT of foodgrains to brought into the state through Bangladesh.
“Now we want industrialists in Bangladesh to invest in our state and set up production units based on locally available raw materials. That will be good for them and also good for our economy,” Sarkar told bdnews24.com. “They will get value for money”.
Tripura is India’s second highest producer of natural rubber (Kerala being the first) and has a good horticultural output.
Unlike other Indian states like Assam and West Bengal who raise issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh and oppose the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh for swap of enclaves, Tripura has always pushed for the best of relations with Bangladesh.
It was India’s former Congress minister Mani Shankar Aiyar who had advocated opening up Northeast India for Bangladesh capital.
Aiyar had lambasted Indian capital for its ‘criminal neglect’ of India’s Northeast and said the states in the region should be opened up for Bangladesh capital.
Manik Sarkar said Tripura is a peaceful state, it will soon have surplus power and it is close to the most important urban centers of Bangladesh.
“So this is an ideal investment destination for Bangladesh capital,” he said.
Sarkar said that the present government in Bangladesh have said they have much interest in development of India’s Northeast. “This is most welcome.”
Tripura Conclave, a private initiative by a Tripura-based media company www.tripurainfoway.com, is being organised at Agartala on July 9.
Former Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni will deliver the keynote address at the programme and Bangladesh foreign ministry officials and business leaders will grace the Conclave.
“We want to brainstorm on best possible strategies to leverage trans-national processes like BCIM and BIMSTEC to develop Tripura. For us, Bangladesh is not a problem but an opportunity,” said Saumen Sarkar, organiser of the Tripura Conclave.
