The three-day Business 20 (B20) conference of the G20 dialogue forum for the global business community in Northeast states concluded in Imphal, Manipur on Sunday.
The B20 delegates visited Khwairamband Ima Keithel and Kangla Fort on the concluding day on Sunday. Delegates praised the women of Ima Keithel, calling it a symbol of women empowerment in India.
Delegates from the European Union told the media that a concrete project has to be looked at. It is all about the trajectory the state takes, they said, adding that they look forward to it as stability and security has been made.
The North-eastern states, including Manipur, are seen as the gateway to South East Asia. Also, India is to implement its Act East Policy through these states. After the India-Myanmar Asian Highway construction completes, it will only take 16-18 hours to cover the distance between Bangkok and Manipur.
Also, there are plans to operate cargo flights between the Manipur capital Imphal and Mandalay, Myanmar. The three-day meeting discussed opportunities for multilateral business partnership, ICT, tourism, healthcare and handlooms.
The Business 20 (B20) is a group that represents the private sector within the Group of 20 (G20) forum.
The organisation was created to provide a platform for the business community to engage with the G20 and to offer recommendations on policies that can support global economic growth and development.
A foreign delegate from New York told the media that she will bring her relatives and family to show the beauty of Manipur, particularly the Khwairamband Keithel.
“I will tell the world that there is a beautiful market run by women that sells authentic handicrafts, clothes and others,” the delegate said.
The delegates also expressed that the hospitality of the people is rare anywhere in the world.
Another woman delegate from Russia said that she had never known that India has a beautiful state which has an extraordinary culture and tradition that is totally different from other states in the country. The handicraft and others need to be exposed to the world, she added.
WATCH: A Dive Into Ima Keithel: The Other Side of the Women-only Market in Asia
The Imphal event was the first B20 conference part of India’s G20 presidency and the second will be held in Aizawl, Mizoram from March 1 to 3. The next will be in Sikkim, Gangtok from March 15 to 17 and the fourth will be in Kohima in Nagaland from April 4 to 6.
Delegates from Australia, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Chad, Canada, China, France, Greece, Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Nepal, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda, and the United States participated in the event, according to a release by PIB Manipur.
WATCH: Ima Keithel and Women Vendors: Whose Survival Are We Talking About?
Delegates from overseas trade delegation- Bhutan Chamber of commerce and industry, Asia supporting organisation, APO, Japan, India-Bangladesh chamber of commerce and industry and Bilateral organisation-Indian Association of Japan, Indo Iceland Business Association were among the participants.
Besides, diplomats-ambassadors from embassy of the republic of Tunisia, High Commissioner-Bangladesh High Commission, High Commissioner- High Commissioner of the republic of Seychelles, New Delhi, deputy head of mission-embassy of Iceland, Charge ‘d’ Affaires/head of mission- High Commission of Togo in India were part of B20 event, according to the PIB Manipur.
Also Read: First B20 conference concludes in Imphal
