Purandeswari, who was speaking after the flagging down of the ASEAN-India car rally here, said the country's Look East policy had taken root and now there is tremendous cooperation in trade and commerce between NE region and south Asain countries.
"These types of occasions (ASEAN-India car rally) create an occasion to increase cooperation. The north east is the gateway to the south Asian nations and thus the focus on bilateral trade should be in the region," she said.
Trade between the two sides have increased to USD 74 billion now, which she said, is an 'encouraging sign'.
Assam Chief minister Tarun Gogoi describing the flagging down as a historic occasion said the government was looking forward to press for its Look East policy.
"We think the government should utilise the occasion to start bilateral trade with the south Asian countries... The NE region has been the gateway for trade with south Asian countries and these kinds of occasions will help us develop our region," he said.
CII president Adi Godrej said the rally is a 'fitting culmination' of the endeavours of the government and the industry to develop trade relation with south Asian countries.
"Connectivity is important and I feel if this is developed there will be flourishing trade ties between the North Eastern states and south Asian countries," he said.
Assam Industry Minister Pradyut Bordoloi lauded the efforts of government and ASEAN to organise the rally.
Cambodia's Senior Minister for Commerce Cham Prasidh and Minister of Industry of Lao, Nam Viyaketh spoke on the occasion.
