Sunday, December 4 2005 11:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Welcoming the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Agreement, coming into force from January 1, Union Minister for Development of Northeast P R Kyndiah today (Dec 4,2005) said the agreement would help the 'emerging' economies of Northeastern states and facilitate trade with the neighboring countries.

"The Northeastern states are emerging as a very important economic region and I think finalisation of SAFTA will facilitate flow of trade with neighboring SAARC countries," he told sources here.

Kyndiah said the agreement would help the economy of the northeast to a great extent and Government was now concentrating on improving the rail, road and air connectivity so that the region could exploit benefits to the optimum.

"We are now concentrating on improving the road, rail, air and riverine connectivity to the region which is vital for trade links with the neighboring countries "The region has a natural advantage for border trade owing to its geographical location and proximity and I think we must capitalise on it," he said.