Bangladesh hosts the summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) in Dhaka from November 12 to 13.

Singh, during his recent visit to Tripura, had indicated this to Tripura Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who submitted a memorandum to him.

The memorandum demanded including transit and transshipment through Bangladesh.

"I will go Dhaka to participate in the Saarc summit and hope this summit will give a new fillip to economic and cultural integration of our northeast region," Singh had said.

Talking to newspersons in Agartala yesterday, the chief minister said Tripura could be the gateway for Southeast Asia in general and Northeast in particular.

The Chittagong Port in Bangladesh is just 75km from the South Tripura's sub-divisional town Sabroom, and Ashuganj Port in that country is just a few kilometres from Agartala, he explained.

If Bangladesh allows the transit and transshipment facility for the northeastern states, it (Bangladesh) itself will be benefited in many ways, Sarkar said.

The state government also approached Singh to sanction another alternative national highway from Sabroom to Kukital in Assam through West Dhalai and North Tripura districts, he added.

If the existing Assam-Agartala national highway was made four lanes as announced by Singh and the alternative national highway sanctioned the state, there would be a real gateway for Southeast Asia, Sarkar pointed out.

Singh said in Agartala the improved air, rail, road and telecommunications connectivity between northeastern region of India and Southeast Asia would revive old trade routes to enable the creativity of the people of this region and find greater expression.

The prime minister said, "Our northeastern states are India's gateway to Southeast Asia and this is a reality not just in terms of physical connectivity, but also in terms of economic outreach and cultural affinities."

The development of the northeast region and its integration with the larger regional processes were the prime determining factors of India's engagement with regional cooperation, Singh said.

He further said this region would derive benefit from Saarc, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Association of South East Asian nations.

India's 'Look East' policy, initiated by the Congress government in the early 1990s, had brought India closure to its eastern neighbours, he added.

"A month later, I will be in Kuala Lumpur to participate in the East Asian Summit and the early completion of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement process and the India-Asean FTA will create new trading and investment opportunities, while the launch of Bimstec has brought India closure to Myanmar and Thailand," he pointed out.