Centre plans to link North East to SE Asia: Governor Jagdish Mukhi

New Delhi: The Centre is considering linking Guwahati with all major South East Asian nations by flight services as part of a plan to improve connectivity to the North East and boost the region's trade prospects, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said on Sunday.

A plan to develop the Assam city as a major hub for trade with the 10-nation ASEAN bloc is being worked on, he said.

The governor said efforts were on to set up consulates of all the 10 member-countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Guwahati, and to re-open traditional trade routes between the North Eastern states and South East Asia.

Mukhi said the Centre was working on an "ambitious plan" to boost the economic growth of the resource-rich North East.

Among the steps being considered was the linking of the region through land, air and water with the "vibrant economies" of South East Asia, in sync with India's Act East policy.

"In 1950, the per capita income of (undivided) Assam was much higher than the national average. The region lagged behind after Independence as traditional trade routes with all the countries in South East were snapped. We are trying to revive them," he said in an interview.