India’s North Eastern states, and her immediate eastern neighbours, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar, is a geographically compact region in Eastern South Asia. Lying in the underbelly of the mighty Himalayas, a defining feature of the entire region is the many rivers that interlace the region. An elaborate network of rain and snow-fed rivers drain the region and flow into the Bay of Bengal.
As the discourse between the member states of region on connectivity and economic cooperation takes further shape, constructive use of rivers respecting riverine connectivity to enhance trade and development of service sectors such as tourism can add further impetus to the initiatives. Rivers do not follow political boundaries. Their health is a measure of how well we care for our environment. Cooperation based on mutual understanding and trust amongst all stakeholders is critical to foster the common goals of member states in key areas such as environmental protection, economical physical connectivity, strong people to people ties, enhanced trade, eco friendly tourism and creation of peaceful border zones : for lasting regional peace, stability and prosperity. The role of the “third space” to complement efforts in this direction by the first space led by government and the second space led by industry has become the need of the hour. Credible civil society organizations, academia, individual entrepreneur, grass root level organizations must be mobilized to help create an atmosphere which can lead to organic growth bottom up and complement the synergies being created by governments and industry. The Asian Confluence River Festival, 'NADI', 2016 has brought together all three spaces that connect, deliberate, inspire and to be inspired as we all recommit to a common vision that we all nurture: clean environment, smooth and cheap connectivity, bustling trade and tourism. A net-working platform for interaction between all the three spaces. 'NADI' 2016 was held on the 15&16 of July in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. 'NADI' Frienship Series will follow up on this.
