February 3, 2018
India’s Northeast region comprises of eight Indian states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura
“Act East” policy is aimed at increasing people to people contact and trade ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries
ASEAN is a strategic partner for India with 30 ongoing dialogue mechanisms, including annual summits and seven ministerial meetings covering a wide range of sectors
PM Modi has stressed that India's growth would be energised through fast-paced growth of the Northeast region that shares long international border
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on February 3rd inaugurated Advantage Assam – a Global Investors Summit to promote trade and investment in the Northeastern state of Assam. Welcoming delegates to the two-day Summit in Guwahati, the Prime Minister said that India’s Northeast region was at the heart of the Union Government’s “Act East” policy. India’s “Act East” policy is aimed at increasing people to people contact, trade ties and other relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. PM Modi emphasised that India’s growth story would be further energised through balanced and fast-paced growth of the Northeast region that shares extended land border in Southeast Asia.
Advantage Assam is the largest ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the Government of Assam. The summit highlights the geo-strategic advantages offered to investors by Assam. The event showcases the manufacturing prowess and the opportunities offered by the state in export-oriented manufacturing and services to growing economies in South and Southeast Asia. The summit highlights investment opportunities in the state, focusing on: Power, Agriculture & Food Processing, IT & ITeS, River Transport & Port Townships, Plastics & Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Equipment, Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts, Tourism, Hospitality & Wellness, Civil Aviation and Petroleum and Gas.
The Northeast region – comprising of the eight Indian states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura – has attracted renewed attention from the Central Government in form of new infrastructure and transportation projects. This will aid the “Act East” strategy – a step further from the ‘Look East’ policy of the previous Central Government. On January 25th India had held the ASEAN–India Commemorative Summit to celebrate 25 years of partnership between ASEAN and India. To mark the occasion, heads of State and Government of the 10 ASEAN states had attended India’s 69th Republic Day parade in New Delhi as guests of honour.
The ASEAN states include Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei – all fast-growing economies. ASEAN is a strategic partner for India with 30 ongoing dialogue mechanisms, including annual summits and seven ministerial meetings covering a wide range of sectors. India’s “Act East policy” reinforces the nation’s ancient links with Southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties. India’s ties with ASEAN, a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, has been strengthened by increasing interactions on culture, commerce and connectivity. This will help India improve its diplomatic outreach in the region.