Guwahati: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa has advocated the idea of overhauling the customs tariff system for the sake of everyone's growth.

He made a reference to the illegal passage of goods across the border.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 2nd North East India Buyer-Seller Meet, which has been organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Government of India, Sarma said that the North East can play a pivotal role in fostering the relationship between India and ASEAN and the BBN, not only by serving as a gateway to the South East Asian nations but also as a platform for facilitating bilateral trade and commerce with these nations.

The region has the potential to serve as the launch pad for the growth of trade and commerce with these countries, according to Chief Minister Dr. Sarma, because it is situated in the centre of the South East Asian countries that are rapidly developing. A particular geographical advantage for becoming a catalyst for the growth of trade and business with these nations, according to him, is the region's extensive international boundaries with South East Asian and BBN countries, including China.

The Chief Minister, Dr. Sarma, introduced Assam as the largest economy in the North Eastern region to the foreign delegates present at the summit. The state's thriving tea, oil, coal, and tourism industries have given it a reputation as an industrial state.

With 312 designated reserve forests, five national parks, and 20 wildlife sanctuaries, Assam is one of the nation's biodiversity hotspots. The state can take the lead in making green polymers, which are in high demand in developed countries, taking into account its well-established petrochemical industry.

He said that Assam is home to some of the world's rarest wild animals and has a diverse range of flora and wildlife, providing tremendous opportunity for wild life tourism and investment.

The chief minister said that the state's organic goods, such as jackfruit, bananas, red rice, black rice, joha, pineapple, and bhut jolokia, had enormous export potential.

Dr. Sarma claimed that the North Eastern area has benefited immensely from the increased connection between India and South East Asian countries. According to him, fresh optimism has been generated by bilateral and multilateral connectivity efforts like the Trilateral Highway, which connects India with Thailand via Myanmar.

He added that the Imphal-Moreh Railway line survey and planning work is in progress. In an effort to boost trade and commerce, the creation of a North East Economic Corridor connecting markets in Bangladesh and the ASEAN area is also being actively considered.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the ICC and Union Ministry for External Affairs for organising the meeting, saying that it will contribute to the region's economic growth and facilitate regional cooperation.

The meeting, which was organised with focussed nations including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Thailand, and Laos, would also aid in building a climate that would allow the stake holders to demonstrate their natural power to the purchasers. The meeting will help to strengthen the long-standing links between the North East and its neighbours.

With over 400 attendees, the 2nd North East India buyer-seller meet was a huge accomplishment. The buyer-seller meeting, which focused on the commercial potential in the northeastern area, saw a variety of activities that boded well for future endeavours. Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Union's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and A.K. Gogoi, a member of the NEC, both spoke during the meeting's inaugural ceremony.