Assam to take forward Modi's 'Act East Policy'
Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal said that his administration would set up an 'Act East' department to combine and take ahead the Centre's Act East Policy. The Act East policy was intended at linking North East India with South East Asia. He said 2 global centers will be set up to provide space for investors in Assam focusing on Make in India and Start-up India.
Look East Policy- Strengthening India's economic front with South-East Asia
India launched the 'Look East' policy in 1991 in an effort to further extensive business and strategic associations with Southeast Asia nations to strengthen its standing as a regional power. The policy was also to check China's economic influence. Enacted by PM P.V. Narasimha Rao, it was aggressively pursued by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.
Swaraj says Act East and not just Look East
On her visit to Vietnam, India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj held a "brain storming session of 15 Indian Heads of Mission in South East and East Asia". She said it was not enough to Look East but to Act East. She said that from a focus on South-East Asia now the focus should move to ASEAN.
Modi launches Act East Policy
PM Modi launched Act East policy in Myanmar at the East Asia and India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits. India's "Act East" policy was aimed at strengthening ties with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, bolstering trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. The North-East of India will be a prime focus in the Act East Policy becoming an interface with ASEAN countries.
Centre invests aggressively in North East for development
Focusing on the North-East India, the Centre has invested to a tune of Rs. 2,574.98 per capita in the seven states of the Northeast, against the national average of Rs. 683.94; the highest per capita investment by Centre (most of the budget earmarked for development).
India to expand focus to East Asia, China and connectivity
While a lot has been done, for Act East Policy to flourish India needs to improve connectivity with ASEAN. Projects like the "Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-modal Trade Transit Project, and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)" are steps in the right direction. East Asia especially Japan and Republic of Korea need to be targeted as well.
Tatas and Ambanis find merit in the Act East policy
Centre's push to the northeast and Assam for leveraging the 'Act East Policy' has led to a recent interest by India's 2 top industrialists Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani who are keen to invest in Assam.
