IIM Shillong Charts Path for Northeast's Economic Empowerment with Gati Shakti!

In a momentous conclave themed ‘Connecting India’s North-East with the World,’ IIM Shillong welcomed Sarbananda Sonowal, the honourable Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, as its esteemed Chief Guest. The highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between IIM Shillong and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) to establish the inaugural Gati Shakti Research Chair. This groundbreaking initiative aims to delve into multimodal logistics development strategies, focusing on integrating the northeastern region (NER) with broader national and international spheres to bolster the local economy.

Addressing the gathering, Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised the ethos of 'Team India,' underscoring the concerted efforts towards realising the vision of a vibrant Bharat. He credited the transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting connectivity as pivotal to unleashing the northeast's potential as India's growth epicentre. With an array of infrastructural projects completed in recent years, including a heightened emphasis on waterway connectivity, Sonowal articulated the strategic importance of the north-eastern region (NER), boasting over 4,500 kilometres of international borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

A member of the Board of Governors, Atul Kulkarni, echoed the imperative of enhancing connectivity, streamlining logistics and formulating a comprehensive master plan for the northeast's logistics network.

Professor DP Goyal, Director of IIM Shillong, reflected on the institute's 15-year journey, reaffirming its commitment to knowledge creation and dissemination. He lauded the establishment of the Gati Shakti Research Chair as a catalyst for transformative research endeavours, poised to make a tangible impact not only within the northeast but across the nation.

In a prelude to the main event, the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis at IIM Shillong convened a Roundtable discussion on ‘Gati Shakti at North Eastern Region: Challenges & Opportunities’. Attended by senior officials from the NEC, MoPSW and stakeholders from the northeast, the discourse centreed on devising strategic development plans to fortify the region's economy through enhanced logistics infrastructure. Emphasising the role of inland waterways in regional connectivity, the panel deliberated on operationalising multimodal logistics strategies and policy implementation, aiming to align private and governmental visions with grassroots realities. The overarching objective remains to not only integrate the NER with national and international economic networks but also catalyse localised economic revitalisation, thereby reclaiming the region's prominence on the development map.