President Ram Nath Kovind reached Imphal to inaugurate the Manipur Sangai Festival, 2017 this afternoon. He was accorded a warm welcome at the Imphal Airport by State Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh and his cabinet colleagues. The 10-day state festival will be opened today at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre at Palace Compound in Imphal.<br/><br/>Galaxy of foreign dignitaries including ambassadors of South-East Asian countries and some western countries and senior officials of different union Ministries has arrived at Imphal to attend the Festival.<br/> <br/>Before the inaugural function of the Sangai Festival, President Ram Nath Kovind will open a two-day North-East Development Summit at the City Convention Centre in Imphal. <br/><br/>Convenor of the Organising Committee of the Summit and Vice-Chairman of Manipur Infrastructure Development Agency(MIDA) Moirangthem Asnikumar told AIR News that as many as 175 delegates including official representatives of foreign countries and multi-national corporate firms are attending the Summit. <br/><br/>He further said that in addition to the 175 delegates altogether 36 Indian firms are also sending their representatives to attend the Summit. He also said that around 20 memorandums of understanding(MoUs) will be signed with investor companies during the Summit to attract investment in the State to generate employment avenues for the unemployed educated youths of the State.