SHILLONG, Dec 12: The need for a robust value chain in North East India to capitalize on its unique strengths and natural resources was emphasized during an interactive roundtable discussion organized by the Asian Confluence. The session, titled “European Union Investments for North East India Economic Development,” was held in collaboration with the Centre for Responsible Business.
Franck Viault, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to India and Bhutan, initiated the discussion and underscored the importance of EU-India collaboration. Viault highlighted the opportunities that the EU could offer to foster economic development in the region, noting that increasing the volume and market readiness of key regional commodities would be essential in driving economic growth.
The roundtable featured participation from scholars, senior media professionals, institutional leaders, and government officials from Meghalaya. The conversation focused on enhancing cooperation between India and the European Union to unlock economic opportunities in the North East.
A key area of potential investment discussed was the bio-economy. Participants stressed the opportunity for sustainable development by leveraging the region’s rich biodiversity. The establishment of a visa processing center in North East India was also proposed to facilitate enhanced mobility and collaboration with European counterparts.
Another critical aspect of the discussion was ensuring that all investments in the region are climate-proof, aligning with global sustainability goals and making the North East more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
This roundtable served as a follow-up to a series of discussions held after the “Global Gateway” conference hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the European Union (EU), and the Asian Confluence in June 2023. The event provided a crucial platform to explore actionable pathways for fostering EU investment in the North East, with a focus on aligning economic growth with sustainability and regional priorities.
