Government of Assam
Planning Commission
Government of India
Ministry of
Development of North
Eastern Region
Conference
“Infrastructure Developments in the North East Leveraging Opportunities”
Unlocking North East India’s Growth Potential through Infrastructure and
Connectivity
3 - 4 February 2014; Sarusajai Indoor Stadium, Guwahati, Assam
Draft Programme
Day 1: Monday, 3 February
0930 hrs -1045 hrs
(Plenary Hall - 1)
Opening Plenary Session I: Networking the North East Region – Building Connections
Lately, significant developments in terms of connectivity and infrastructure have been made in the
North Eastern Region. But awareness about these developments and the kind of economic and
business prospects they present are low. In addition to infrastructure and connectivity, Industrial
Infrastructure has also seen improvements in the last decade in the Region.
This session will specifically discuss:
 How improvements have been made in the infrastructure sector in the last 10 years especially
in Roads, Railways, Civil Aviation, Power, Telecom, Coal, Waterways leading to development
of new connectivity’s and economic corridors.
 12th Plan perspectives for infrastructure development.
 Emerging opportunities for Public Private Partnerships in infrastructure and connectivity.
Opening Remarks by Session
Chairperson
Mr. B K Chaturvedi
Member (Energy & Infrastructure)
Planning Commission
Shri Ashok Lavasa
Secretary
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Mr Rohit Kumar Singh*
Joint Secretary
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Mr. Girish Pillai *
Advisor Infrastructure
Ministry of Railways
Ms Neerja Mathur
Chairperson
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Central Electricity Authority
And
Director, Hydro
Ministry of Power
Ministry of Renewable Energy *
Ms. Rita A Teaotia
Additional Secretary
Ministry of Telecommunications
Ms Jayashree Mukherjee *
Joint Secretary
Inland Waterways Authority of India
Ministry of Shipping
Ministry of Coal *
Concluding Remarks
1045 hrs- 1100 hrs
Session Change Over
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Mr. B K Chaturvedi
Day 1: Monday, 3 February
1100 hrs -1230 hrs
(Plenary Hall 1)
Special Session
1100 hrs – 1105 hrs
Welcome Address
Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee
Director General
CII
1105 hrs – 1115 hrs
Address
CII
1115 hrs – 1125 hrs
Presentation “Emerging Model for
integrated Economic Zone in NER –
Prospects & Challenges”
Mr. Pradyut Bordoloi
Minister – Industry
Government of Assam
1125 hrs – 1135 hrs
Address
Mr. Paban Singh Ghatowar
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Development of North Eastern
Region
1135 hrs – 1145 hrs
Address
Mr Nabam Tuki
Chief Minister
Government of Arunachal Pradesh
1145 hrs – 1200 hrs
Address
Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Deputy Chairman
Planning Commission
1200 hrs – 1215 hrs
Address
Mr. Tarun Gogoi
Chief Minister
Government of Assam
1215 hrs – 1230 hrs
Concluding Remarks
Mr. Abhijit Barooah
Co-Chairman – CII North East Council
MD – Premier Cryogencis
Networking Lunch
1230 hrs-1400 hrs
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Day 1: Monday, 3 February
1400 hrs -1545 hrs
(Plenary Hall 1)
Plenary Session II: Leveraging Infrastructure: Capitalising on Growing Business
Opportunities
Although infrastructure is the key to development, creation of it alone may not be sufficient
for realizing the North East India’s growth potential fully which can be achieved, only if the
efforts are supplemented with the development of other growing sectors that harness
resident skills and assets in the Region.
In the backdrop of the new developments, the Session will discuss the future prospects
and how latent opportunities of the North East can be leveraged through developing new
linkages with major consumption centres and markets which can help in creation of robust
and sustainable sectoral value chains of related/synergistic industries such as – Horticulture,
Tourism, Textile, Healthcare and other downstream industries.
Opening Remarks by Session Chairman
Theme Presentation: “Catalysing Growth
from within the Region”
Mr. Saumitra Chaudhuri
Member
Planning Commission
Mr. Raman Ahuja
Director
Intrim Business Associates
Presentations: How growing infrastructure and connectivity can be leveraged for the
development of synergistic sectors – Agriculture, Tourism, Textile, Plastics, IT &
ITES, Telecom, Healthcare and others.
Perspective from Healthcare Industry
Dr. Rupali Basu
Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Region,
Apollo Hospitals Group
Potential Corridors in Horticulture Sector
National Horticulture Board *
Growth of Textile Sector in the Region
Ms Hasina Kharbhih
Ashoka/Aspen Fellow
Founder/MD Impulse Social Enterprises
Potential Tourism Corridors
Mr. Tanmoy Chakraborty
Vice President & Government Practice
Tata Consultancy Services
Potential Downstream Plastic Industries
Representative, BCPL*
A Perspective from the Development
Bank
Mr. B. Paul Muktieh *
CMD
Nedfi
Mr. Sanjay Kumar
GM – Marketing
Pawan Hans
Perspective from Aviation Sector
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Q&A
Closing Remarks by Session Chairman
1545 hrs – 1615 hrs
Tea Break
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Mr. Saumitra Chaudhuri
Day 1: Monday, 3 February
1615 hrs -1730 hrs
(Plenary Hall 1)
Parallel Session III (A) : Potential Value Chain – Horticulture / Food Processing
Parallel Session
Taking forward the discussion from the previous session, this session will discuss the
challenges faced by the Horticulture / Food Processing value chains and possible
interventions for addressing the following:





Aggregation of agricultural produces from far flung hill States and linking it to potential
markets.
Movement of perishables by Cold Chain in NER.
Opportunities for Setting up Food Processing Ventures in the NER.
Opportunities for Border Trade and Exports.
Public Private Partnerships.
Opening Remarks by Session
Chairman
Central Level perspectives
State Level perspectives
To Be Confirmed
National Horticulture Board *
Ministry of Agriculture
Mr. J.C Ramthanga, Commissioner, Horticulture
and SC, Govt of Manipur
Mr. P. T Bhutia, Secretary Agriculture and
Mr. Khorio Bhutia, Secretary, Horticulture,
Govt of Sikkim
Assam *
Corporate perspective
Arunachal Pradesh *
To Be Confirmed
Perspective from Development
Institution - Food Processing In
North East: Opportunities
Unlimited
Mr S Bhattacharyya
Executive Director
NERAMAC
Perspective from Local
Entrepreneur
Mr. Dhrubajit Chaliha *
Director – Marketing
Korangani Tea Co Pvt Ltd
Closing Remarks
Session Chairman
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Day 1: Monday, 3 February
Parallel Session III (B): Promoting Industries in NE India
1615 hrs -1730 hrs
(Plenary Hall 2)
Parallel Session
In addition to the natural endowments, and human resource, 96 % of the entire Region
shares international border. This wide range of competitive advantages has the potential
of catapulting the Region into a path of rapid industrial growth. This can, however, only
happen provided all its strengths can be harnessed in a strategic manner through
“integrated initiatives” aimed at bridging the gaps in terms of “infrastructure”,
“factors of production” e.g. Capital, skilled labour, land, raw material and appropriate
institutional structures for synthesizing the efforts.
The close proximity and linkages with Bangladesh and South East Asian Countries
offers robust opportunities for the NER to emerge as a major manufacturing, trading and
logistics hub for export, import and re-export to the ASEAN Region. The focussed
development of the NE Region holds immense potential for trade expansion and regional
integration.
The session will focus on NEIIPP 2007, Infrastructure and Government support available
to the NE to become industrial hub and tap markets in South Asian Countries.
Opening Remarks by Session Chairman
Mr. Jitesh Khosla
Chief Secretary
Government of Assam
Theme Presentation: “NE as an Industrial
Hub: NEIIPP 2007”
Ms. Shubhra Singh *
Joint Secretary - DIPP
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Panel Discussion will focus on key pre-requisites for positioning NE as an industrial
hub: NEIIPP 2007, Land Policies, Energy issues, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
State Level Perspectives
Assam *
Mr.L. Lakher, Commissioner, (Commerce
& Industry), Govt of Manipur
Mr. P T Euthenpa, IAS, Secretary,
Commerce and Industry, Govt of Sikkim
Mr. P.D Subba, Secretary, Energy and
Power, Govt of Sikkim
Perspective from Bio-technology Sector
Perspective from Energy Sector
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Mr. M Nagaraju, Secretary, Dept. of
Industry and Commerce, Govt of Tripura
Dr. Jitendra Kumar
Head- Life Scieces Incubation Center
Bangalore Helix Biotech Park
Mr. Alakesh Chetia
Managing Director – Rural Electrification &
North East
SunEdison
Perspective
Closing Remarks by Session CoChairman
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Mr. R C Agrawal
President
North East Federation on International
Trade (NEFIT)
Mr. Abhijit Barooah
Co Chair – CII North East Council
Managing Director, Premier Cryogenics
Day 1: Monday, 3 February
1615 hrs -1730 hrs
(Plenary Hall 3)
Parallel Session III (C): Potential Value Chain – Tourism
Taking forward the discussion in previous Session, the Panel Discussion will focus on:
Parallel Session





Unified Incentive Policy for tourism investment in the Region.
Special Policy for attracting Branded Hotels in the Region.
Develop Centres of Excellence of tourism.
Enhancing connectivity by air and surface transport within the Region and outside.
Promote skill development for tourism and hospitality industry.
Opening Remarks by Session Chairman
Mr. M P Bezbaruah *
Member
North East Council
Central level perspective “Infrastructure for
promoting tourism in NER”
Ministry of Tourism *
Perspective “Tourism Sector Issues and
Challenges”
Mr. Tanmoy Chakraborty
Vice President & Government Practice
Tata Consultancy Services
State level perspectives
Assam *
Arunachal Pradesh *
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Principal Secretary,
Tourism, Govt of Manipur.
Mr. C Zangpo Bhutia, Secretary,
Tourism, Sikkim
Ms. Nim Yethenpa, IAS, Deveplopment
commissioner, Sikkim
Perspectives
Vice President *
Lemon Tree
Growing demand of skilled manpower
Mr Goutam Roy
Head – Skills
Future Sharp
Closing Remarks by Session Co-Chairman
Mr. M P Bezbaruah
1930 hrs – Cultural Programme and Networking Dinner
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Day 2: Tuesday, 4 February 2014
1030 hrs – 1120 hrs
Plenary Session IV: Look East Policy: The Regional Integrator
(Plenary Hall 1)
Lately, the Look East Policy is gaining strength through several bilateral arrangements
with Bangladesh and Myanmar especially the Akhaura project linking Bangladesh and the
Kaladan Multimodal project between Mizoram and Sittwe Port and Myanmar.
This session will dwell upon the infrastructural developments between NE India and
neighbouring countries focussing on logistical linkages and border management as a
fundamental pre-requisite of economic integration between NE India and other South
Asian and SE Asian countries.
Opening Remarks by Session
Chairperson
Mr. P C Lawmkung
Chief Secretary
Government of Manipur
Address
Ms Sripriya Ranganathan*
Joint Secretary (BM)
Ministry of External Affairs
Panel Discussion will focus on:

Key issues in transport and logistics integration for trade facilitation with
neighbouring countries.

Growing opportunities for trade expansion in view of revised Border Trade
Policy.

Bilateral policies for movement of goods and people.
Mr Abdul Matlub Ahmed
Address: New Developments in border
linkages: perspectives from neighbouring
President
countries
Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (IBCCI)
Address: New Developments in border
linkages: perspectives from neighbouring
countries
H E Ahmad Tariq Karim *
High Commissioner
The Embassy of Bangladesh
Perspectives from State Governments
Assam *
Mizoram *
Mr. M Nagaraju, Secretary, Dept. of
Industry and Commerce, Govt of Tripura
Interventions by Delegates
Closing Remarks
1120 hrs – 1140 hrs
Tea Break
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014
Session Chairman
Day 2: Tuesday, 4 February 2014
1140 hrs – 1300 hrs
(Plenary Hall 1)
Valedictory Session: Way Forward - Develop an Actionable Agenda for Promoting
the infrastructure development in the Region.
The session will focus on developing the actionable agenda for identifying Value Chains,
promoting the infrastructure development, and the emerging role for private sector in the
Region.
1300 hrs– 1400 hrs
Opening Remarks by Session
Chairperson
Mr B K Chaturvedi
Member
Planning Commission
Address
CII
Address
Ms Sindhushree Khullar
Secretary
Planning Commission
Address
Mr U K Sangma
Secretary
DoNER
Address
Mr Jitesh Khosla
Chief Secretary
Government of Assam
Address
Mr. Ameising Luikham
Secretary
North East Council
Closing Remarks
CII
Lunch Break
Programme closes / Departure of Speakers and Delegates
*Invited
Updated as on 28 Jan 2014