» Regional Integrtion: Northeast: From a Border to a Bridge
In our last issue (No. 2, February 13), we announced the holding of the North East India Trade and Investment Summit from February 12 to 14 at Ho Chi Minh, in Vietnam. It appears that the discussions made slow progress on the plans to use the North East as a bridge to connect India with South East Asia.

Summit held in Vietnam to lure investments to NE
Assam Tribune | February 16, 2009
The decision to hold an investment week in Vietnam came after envoys and representatives of over 10 ASEAN countries participated in the 4th North East Business Summit, Guwahati, September 2008. “The Summit generated a high degree of investment interest in the region by the ASEAN countries” officials said.

Tourism identified as trade link between NE India and SE Asia
The Sangai Express | February 18, 2009
“Tourism is the most effective way to increase the still negligible trade between India’s northeastern region and Vietnam” said Jarnail Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER). Lack of “proper road connectivity” to Myanmar and the rest of Southeast Asia was presented as a key challenge to tourism and trade.

Vietnam, Manipur sign MoU on cooperation
The Sangai Express | February 18, 2009
The Government of Manipur has signed five separate Memoranda of Understanding with several Vietnamese companies in areas such as agro-food processing, toy making, cane and bamboo, etc.