Guwahati: Defence minister George Fernandes called for investment in the North Eastern region in industry, information technology and urban development sectors to create job opportunities for the educated unemployed.

Inaugurating the conference of ministers of urban development, local-self government and housing of North Eastern states, Fernandes said the region was rich in its natural, water and human resources and those should be tapped properly.

He stressed on generating more employment opportunities to tackle the problems afflicting the region including that of insurgency.

The minister said unemployment was the root cause of all problems in the region and asserted that the Prime Minister accorded topmost priority to the region for its economic growth.

Fernandes called on the implementing agencies for large-scale investment in the region to make it developed.

PTI