Tripura may become gateway of Act East policy: Nirmala Sitharaman

NEW DELHI: Tripura may become a gateway for India to implement its 'Act East' policy, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.

"Tripura, located in an advantageous position in respect of strategic, diplomatic and economic relations with Bangladesh, is likely to become the gateway in tandem with implementation of the 'Act East' policy adopted by the government of India," Sitharaman said.

The minister said that the Centre intended to move for development of Bangladesh through Tripura, an official release said.

She inaugurated the first border haat set up along Indo-Bangladesh international border at Srinagar, a village in south Tripura.

The minister assured to look into the matter to expedite building the bridge over Feni river.

"The centre is looking forward to the North-East as the threshold to reach the South-East Asian countries," she added.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar asked the governments of both countries to provide transit facility using Ashuganj and Chittagong sea ports in Bangladesh.

"... if allowing transit facility is not possible, trans-shipment facility could be taken into consideration and that would closer friendly relations between two sides," he said.