Japan to connect landlocked North East with Bangladesh
Northeast India will soon get the facility to trade through Matarbari Deep Sea Port of Bangladesh.
- Japan is assisting Bangladesh through the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) initiative to develop the Matarbari port and improve connectivity in the region.
- BIG-B aims to accelerate the establishment of industrial clusters in the Dhaka – Chittagong – Cox’s Bazar belt region and beyond. It also includes the development of economic infrastructure, improving the investment climate and promoting connectivity.
- Recently, the Prime Minister of Japan has outlined the outline of Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Under this strategy, Japan will promote the Bay of Bengal – Northeast India industrial value chain concept to stimulate the growth of the entire region.
- Japan is also assisting in the development of road connectivity in NER. It aims to link NER with Japanese aided projects in Bangladesh.
- Japan is working closely with India to cooperate in the development of the NER through the India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF).
- The objective of AEF is to promote connectivity within the North Eastern Region and between the North Eastern Region and South East Asia.
- The India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF) reflects the synergy between India’s Act East policy and Japan’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Other initiatives launched for the North Eastern region-
- The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project has been launched to boost connectivity with Myanmar.
- India and Bangladesh have signed a Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade.
- The India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway is being developed.
Source – Economics Times
