The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 980 crore to dredge the Brahmaputra as an initiative to develop waterways to Bangladesh and to other South East Asian countries in a bid to boost trade and industry in the Northeast. <br/><br/>Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, during his address at the day-long North East Tea Conclave at Guwahati today said that opening up of the Brahmaputra waterways for trade will lead to a reduction in the cost of transportation of goods. It will ultimately result in Assam becoming a export hub for the South East Asian countries.<br/><br/>The minister said that Centre's Act East Policy has focused aggressively on trade with South East Asian countries and opening up the waterways will be the first step in this direction. He asserted that with this step, Assam gets a readymade market of Bangladesh and West Bengal with 25 crore consumers and trade can be extended to Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and other South East Asian countries. Patowary informed that Centre has also agreed to link up Assam and South East Asia with air connectivity.