The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) successfully hosted the conference "Building Bridges: Trade and Connectivity through Land Port Sabroom" on 26th November 2024. The conference, held at the Land Port Sabroom, located in South Tripura, marks a pivotal step towards enhancing trade and connectivity in the region.

The event was graced by Shailendra Kumar Sinha, Chief Commissioner of Customs & Indirect Taxes (CCIT), Guwahati, as the Chief Guest and Ravi Gandhi, Additional Director General, Eastern Command, Border Security Force, Kolkata, as the Guest of Honor. The event was also honoured by distinguished guests, Patel Piyush Purushottam Das, IG, BSF Tripura FTR and T Ravi, Commissioner GST, Agartala.

The conference commenced with a warm welcome address by Aditya Mishra, Chairman of LPAI, who set the tone for the day's discussions and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing trade and infrastructure development.

A significant highlight of the inaugural session was the release of several key publications by distinguished guests and. Aditya Mishra, Chairman LPAI. The LPAI History Book – a comprehensive chronicle capturing the journey and milestones of LPAI in enhancing cross-border connectivity; LPAI Coffee Table Book - a visual showcase celebrating the vibrant infrastructure and accomplishments of LPAI and the Sustainable Land Ports Policy – a forward-looking framework aimed at integrating sustainability into the development and operation of land ports and achieving carbon neutrality at Land Ports by 2035.

The conference also featured the release of the Study Report "Sabroom Land Port: Impact Assessment, Prospects, Opportunities and Challenges”, developed in collaboration with the Asian Confluence. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the Sabroom Land Port's current impact and outlines the potential for future growth and development. The report release was followed by an insightful panel discussion on “Sabroom as the Gateway of Northeast: Boosting India-Bangladesh Trade & Connectivity”.

The panel discussion was moderated by Ravi Gandhi and included panelists K Yhome, Senior Fellow, Asian Confluence; Mikiko Tanaka, Director and Head, UNESCAP; Vishwasree B., Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, Govt of Tripura; Shubhankar Debnath, Co-coordinator, India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Agartala; Sushant Dutta, School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication, Agartala; Indraneel Bhowmik, Professor of Economics, Tripura University, Agartala;  Subir Kumar Sen, Head of the Department of Commerce, Tripura University, Agartala and Susanta Bhowmik, Trader, Agartala. The conference successfully brought together policymakers, academia, industry experts, and stakeholders to deliberate on the enhancement of trade and connectivity through the Land Port Sabroom.

The discussions and outcomes of the conference and the panel discussion will pave the way for a more integrated and prosperous trade environment in the region.