Northeast holds potential to be Southeast Asia trade corridor: Dr Jitendra

SEPAHIJALA (TRIPURA): During the visit to Tripura, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a District Level Review Meeting in Sepahijala District at the Conference Hall of the Collector Office, Kamalasagar.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh said Northeast has the potential to develop as a Southeast Asia trade corridor and called upon the district administration to explore the vast bamboo potential of the State and scale up its utilisation in a structured and commercially viable manner. With the start of train service from Tripura to Bangladesh, this will be an easy  and cost effective trade route too, he said.

The Minister said Tripura is endowed with rich bamboo forests, yet the resource remains under-utilised. Bamboo, being a versatile product, finds application in construction, building materials, interior and home decoration, jewellery, handicrafts, and furniture. Expanded value addition and wider market access, he said, can significantly enhance Tripura’s trade capacity and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Referring to regional connectivity, the Minister recalled that work on the rail link connecting Tripura to Bangladesh had commenced during his tenure as . The project has already been approved and remains in place. He said that work is presently progressing at a slower pace due to the prevailing situation in Bangladesh. Once direct train services begin, Tripura, and thereby the entire Northeast, will open as an important South Asian corridor for trade and business.

Earlier, the District Administration made a detailed presentation on development indicators and governance initiatives. The review covered progress under major rural development schemes, infrastructure projects, Jal Jeevan Mission implementation, PMAY-G performance, institutional delivery, and immunisation coverage, as well as achievements in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and self-help group financing.

Innovative initiatives such as Mission Sankalp aimed at eliminating child marriage and teenage pregnancy, e-Office implementation for paperless administration, QR-based feedback systems, Jan Sunwai for grievance redressal, rooftop solarisation, rainwater conservation measures, and capacity-building programmes were also placed before the Minister during the meeting.