• North East to play a pivotal role in furthering India-ASEAN business ties

Addressing the 'India ASEAN Women's Business Forum' (IAWBF) organized by FLO Mumbai Chapter, Dr Singh said that the future belongs to ASEAN and in the post COVID scenario both India and ASEAN will lead the way forward for the world. He added that women in India and ASEAN have excelled not only in the corporate world but in other fields as well and have even outwitted men in several areas. 

Speaking about the pivotal role of North East India in furthering India-ASEAN relationship, the Minister said that the North East has a special role in trade with ASEAN countries. "The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi gave a clarion call for 'Act East'; hence, to develop trade and business with ASEAN, we have to act through the North East", he said. He added that in the post-COVID scenario when the entire world will be looking towards India, the North East will emerge as a potential area with unexplored avenues.

Appreciating the role of women in the North East, Dr Singh said that the region has a very rich tradition of enterprising women who are inherently emancipated in the true sense. He remarked that when other states in the country were requesting the government for face masks with the emergence of COVID-19, women in the North East made fancy face masks for use in the region.

Ms Vinita Bimbhet, India Chair, IAWBF, and Past President, FLO, said that IAWBF was established so that women entrepreneurs from India and ASEAN can engage, interact and collaborate with each other on projects and businesses. "The North East is a natural gateway to the ASEAN and we are delighted to collaborate in the areas of knowledge transfer, sharing of practices, expertise in latest methodologies and technologies, marketing and packaging within the bamboo industry, organic farming and coffee", she said and added that they also plan on establishing women tech champs.

Ms Jahnabi Phookan, National President, FLO, said that developing the North East Region (NER) is key for encouraging India-ASEAN relationship. There is a need to create a roadmap for providing sustainable livelihood to women entrepreneurs in both India and ASEAN. She added that for the development of a country, giving priority to women is a smart move.

Ms Maloo Natarajan, Chairperson, FLO Mumbai Chapter said that we are all working towards the same objective of women empowerment for a truly inclusive economic growth trajectory and to build cohesive societies.

Ms Pacita Juan (Philippines), ASEAN Chair IAWBF & Founder, ECHOstore, Coffee Crusador; Ms Ma Khine Zaw (Myanmar), President, Earth Group of Companies and Ms Nadira Yusoff (Malaysia), Founder & CEO, Kiddocare, also shared their perspectives.