The team of 07 journalists from Rajasthan interacted with Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Port, Shipping and Waterways, and Minister of AYUSH today at IWAI, Pandu Port.
The Union Minister emphasized the idea of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ and importance of inviting journalists and common people from other states to understand the unique cuisine, culture, folk tradition, geography, natural heritage and industrial and infrastructural development in the paired states. The Minister reiterated the inter-state coordination between states for making India a developed nation by 2047.
He further talked in detail about the idea of ‘Act East Policy’ of the Prime Minister to make North-East India an engine of growth and development. Highlighting the unique position of North East, the Minister said that the Government is making efforts to make North East a hub for medical, educational, industrial and business hub along with preserving the rich natural and cultural heritage of the states in North East India.
The Minister also shared infrastructure development in waterways and port development in the country especially in North East India.
The team of journalist also visited Pandu port to see the construction of the Ship Repairing Facility, the first in the Northeast and first in India on the Inland Waterways. A. SelvaKumar, Director, Inland Waterways Authority of India briefed the journalists about the ongoing projects in Assam and Northeast. He stated that “Once the port is ready ships will not have to go to Kolkata for repairing which will save both money and time of the vessel owners and operators, furthering the Ease of Doing Business”.