IMPHAL, September 19: Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has shown interest in opening of Centre for Indo-Myanmar Relation in Imphal, president of the Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance RK Shivchandra told media today.
Speaking at a press conference held at his residence, he said the Union Minister is also keen to open three-month diploma courses on the languages of Myanmar, China and Thailand in Manipur.
He said the Union Minister has also assured to do the needful within a week`™s time.
Shivchandra said a team of the alliance, including its advisor and BJP national executive member Tapir Gao and patron members L Bashanta Sharma, former Thongju MLA Th Bishwajit Singh and himself had met the Union Minister recently in the national capital.
The team also submitted a 10-point memorandum to the Union Minister, he said.
Accepting the memorandum which sought help for the youth of Manipur to improve their socio-economic status, Sushma Swaraj showed keen interest in opening the Shyamaprasad Mukhrajee Centre for Indo-Myanmar Relation within a 10 km radius of Imphal and assured action within a week, he said.
The Union Minister also assured to talk with the Myanmar Counterpart to open a one year language course in Kalimiyu University, Myanmar.
He said as the team highlighted the potential of Manipur once the Trans Asian Highway which will connect the country with other South East Asian countries, the Union Minister also promised a Guest House for tourists in Imphal which will also guide medical tourists in the State.
He said the team also informed the Union Minister that the alliance will open its branch office at Moreh and assist tourists visiting Manipur.
Shivchandra said his team will soon meet with the State Chief Minister to talk on the assurances of the Union Minister.
He said this is not the time to wait for only packages from the Centre. In a few more years, there is every possibility of Manipur becoming an economic hub of the region and we need to learn foreign languages including those of European countries.
He said we should also be ready to export out handloom products to the South East Asian countries.
We should not fight for land among ourselves, he said.