GUWAHATI, March 14 — German Government has shown interest in extending help towards development of hydro power sector, healthcare, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and infrastructure in the North Eastern region. A three-member German delegation led by Dr Wolfhard Behrens, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in New Delhi made a visit to the State couple of days back to have first hand information about possibilities of German cooperation in development of North East India.
The German team which also had Mrs Andrea Johnston, Director of KfW, a German Development Bank and Dr Gisela Hayfa, Director GTZ, India office as its members, had a detail discussion with the top-brass of the NEDFi here on March 12 in respect of areas potent for Indo-German development cooperation in the region. The NEDFi General Manager (TEDF), Dr P Deka informed that the basic purpose of the visit of the German team was to get information on activities of the NEDFi and to give information on the focus areas of German Development cooperation and procedure so that areas of mutual interest could be identified and concrete initiatives could be taken.
Dr Deka informed that during the hour-long face-to-face with the German delegation, the NEDFi made a brief presentation highlighting possibilities of Indo-German co-operation in areas like hydro-power, tourism, horticulture, medicinal and aromatic plants agro-processing units, venture capital, healthcare, infrastructure, information technology.
However, the German team showed interests in getting involved in development of hydro-power, healthcare, infrastructure and small and medium enterprises in the region.
The German team informed that their country was not averse to provide soft loans as well as grants in special cases towards development of these four sectors in the region. The Germans said soft loans would be channelised through Government of India and respective State Governments of the region for suitable projects in the areas identified for joint development co-operation.
In special cases Germany would like to provide soft loans through financial institutions provided the concerned State Government agreed to give guarantee for such loans. A follow up visit by the German Ambassador to the region is also on the cards in respect of exploring possibilities of Indo-German development cooperation in the North East.