Agartala, April 25 (IANS) The Czech Republic is keen to set up joint ventures in agro-based industrial sectors in northeast India and is also willing to extend technical support to develop the segment, Czech Ambassador to India Miloslav Stasek said here Thursday.
"With the developing of agro-based industries in Tripura and other northeastern states, the region could build up a strong trade network between the region, south and southeast Asia," Stasek told reporters.
"Most of the northeastern states have got a lot of potential in housing joint ventures in agro-based industries while technical expertise of the Czech Republic and support from Czech Export Bank in form of soft loans could make it a great initiative for the south and southeast Asian market," he said.
Stasek said there was huge scope to develop and to set up agro-based industries using the region's famed pineapple, cashew nuts, orange and other fruits and agro-products, that are of natural high quality.
The Czech envoy arrived here Wednesday on a three-day maiden trip to the northeastern state of Tripura and met Governor Devanand Konwar, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Aghore Debbarma, Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Choudhury and senior officials and discussed the scope and possibilities for expanding trade and industry.
Accompanied by senior officials, Stasek has visited other northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram to explore the possibilities to set up joint ventures industries in the region.
"The Czech Republic has the appropriate technology and the northeastern region of India has the raw materials. So, there is no problem to set up the industries in joint collaboration," he said.
Choudhury said: "Besides agricultural and horticultural resources, mineral, forest and other natural reserves still remain untouched in northeast India. Tourism, health care, handloom and handicraft, agriculture, horticulture, food processing and infrastructure development are also high potential investment sectors in the region."
"Investment and development of information technology, education, energy and border trade in the region has also discussed with the Czech ambassador," the minister added.
With 45.58 million population, the northeast region of India is surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh, which Choudhury said was "an advantage for attracting foreign investment".
