Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has left Bangladesh for Guwahati via Kolkata to attend the third edition of the Asian Confluence flagship dialogue NADI (Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence) Conclave scheduled to run on May 28-29.
The two-day conclave is set for inauguration by foreign minister Momen and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and the foreign minister of Thailand, along with Himanta Biswa Sarma, chief minister of Assam in the presence of diplomats of several countries, top experts and scientists and other dignitaries.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the valedictory address of the conclave on May 29. A galaxy of leaders and experts will be in Guwahati to attend the event organised by the think tank Asian Confluence, headquartered in Shillong, in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the Act East Department of Government of Assam, the North Eastern Council and other partners. The Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies is the country partner for the event and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IIT Guwahati and Guwahati University, are the knowledge partners.
What’s the objective?
The goal of the dialogue will be to articulate and activate a collective vision of sub-regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region and with South-East Asia, keeping North East India and Assam at the epicentre of activity, said the organizers.
NADI recognizes the region south of Himalayas from Ganga, Brahmaputra to Mekong as a contiguity of river basins with common challenges that require close cooperation beyond their political borders.
It is also aimed at building confidence in the key role of North Eastern Indian region in taking forward India’s strategic initiative for energy and water security in the neighbourhood, and the Bay of Bengal region leading towards a vibrant and secure Indo-Pacific.
NADI 2022 will bring together all major stakeholders such as government, the diplomatic community, scientists, corporates, civil society and diverse riparian communities who will brainstorm on specific actions to foster a people-centric regional narrative around caring and sharing of our shared riverine resources for sustainable development.
NADI uses the symbols and narratives of our shared rivers, and shared waters to encourage shared ideas on collaboration with emphasis on 5Cs: Connectivity, Culture, Commerce, Conservation, and Collaboration in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin.
Taking forward the messages of the previous NADI conclave, that were held in Shillong and Dhaka respectively followed by several research and outreach projects and online events during the lockdown, this is the third version of NADI dialogue (NADI-3) that is taking place in Guwahati, which is also India’s gateway to South-east apart from being the crucial meeting point of all the North-eastern states.
