Security main concern for investors willing to enter state: Investors meet

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IMPHAL, April 27: Wooing investors to explore economic and developmental viabilities in various sectors in the state keeping in line to the look east policy, the ‘North East Investors Meet’ under the theme “Opportunities Unlimited” was held today at the Hotel Classic, Imphal jointly organized by the DoNER ministry and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Over 20 companies dealing in different sectors like health, power and infrastructure etc from different parts of the country attended the meet.
Commerce and Industry minister, Y. Irabot, Tourism minister, TN. Haokip, chief secretary and O Nabakishore principal secretary commerce and industry and other officials of various departments including health sector, power, horticulture, Tourism etc attended the meet.
Talking to media persons at the sideline of the programme Tourism minister, TN. Haokip, said a number of teams representing the state have attended similar meets in different cities like Guwahati, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai. Subsequently many investors or companies had showed interest however till date none of the companies have turned up in the state. In order to convince the investors, the state government had tried explaining that the law and order prevailing in the state is a temporary phenomenon however all bids to impressed the visitors have failed, he added.
Speaking on the issue of the Protected Area Permit (PAP), the minister said that even though foreign tourist have started flocking in the state after the PAP has been lifted, the main problem faced by the state is the lack of accommodation like star hotels etc. He also added that instead of expecting and waiting for investors from outside the state come in and fill the gap, the local entrepreneurs should comprehend the need of the hour, he added.
The need of the hour is a joint effort from all the sections including the general public and the government to bring out the potentials and feasibilities that the state has, contended the minister.
The Tourism minister also informed that a number of circuit house destinations are under construction including upgrading the existing Imphal hotel to 5 Star level.
Commerce and Industry minister, Y. Irabot, while addressing the gathering said that the movement in the Indo-Myanmar border at Moreh would become free once the Integrated Check Post (ICP) is completed. Subsequently the current 45 tradable items will increase gradually. Moreover a multi storied shopping complex with multi utilities is under construction at Moreh (21 acre), he added.
Minister, Y. Irabot also informed that the 55 food processing units at the food park at Nilakuthi would soon be converted to Tetra Park and at the same time he has welcomed any investors or companies interested.
The chief secretary DS Poonia, in his speech, said that investors are interested to come to Manipur but lack of infrastructure and insurgency are making them uncertain to take the risk.
Indicating the government’s efforts to develop the state in the wake of the look east policy, DS Poonia, revealed that it has plan to build a 30 acre wide IT park in collaboration with Software Technology park Guwahati besides expanding the Imphal airport to 640 acres with a cargo complex in it and connecting railway Moreh and Mandalay from Imphal by 2014.      Interacting with media persons on the sideline of the meet, Naki Ahmed, advisor ICC North East Initiative, said that the motive for organizing the meet was to breach the gap between investors and the Manipur government.
Judging from the turn out of gathering today, Naki Ahmed observed that the investors have high hopes. Taking this opportunity the people and the state government should give their best shots.
These investors are ready to even train the people if required said the ICC advisor and asserted that the concept of law and order should be kept aside. Everyplace in the world have insurgency or similar problems.
He observed that hydro power is the most potential sector followed by Food processing and IT in the state.
We are willing to take the risk if fool proof security is provided in practical rather than just giving assurance, said RK. Sharma who represented the Shyam group of Industries which dealt in multi sectors like power, infrastructure etc.
Another representative of a construction company base at Kolkata, Karika Eastate Ltd., said that their group is willing to build township, comprising of about 500 flats and 200 bungalows, in Imphal and provide them at low rate to the customers, if the government or any other organization are interested.
The investors and representatives of various government departments also had individual interactions during the meet.

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