Assam central to the success of Act East policy: S Jaishankar

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    In News: At an event on “Act East Policy and India-Japan Cooperation in North-East India with a Special Focus on Assam”, Indian foreign minister termed Assam as springboard for Act East Policy.

    • The event was in Guwahati to review a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Guwahati Water Supply project site with Japanese ambassador Suzuki.

    Points of Convergence between Japan and India/ Issues discussed at Event

    • Indian External Affairs Minister emphasised that JICA funded projects would help to
      • Create connectivity to and within Assam, the Northeast, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
      • They will also play a crucial role in connectivity to Vietnam and Japan by road, sea and air.
      • A more connected Assam will be a more energetic Assam, a more contributing Assam, and obviously, a more employed Assam.
    • In addition, the External Affairs Minister also highlighted that
      • Japanese Official Development Assistance has funded roads, rail, urbanization and energy across the Nation.
      • An increase in the ease of doing business in India has resulted in higher Japanese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
      • These were “early days” of Myanmar Coup and perhaps Indo-Myanmar development projects would not be affected.
        • Myanmar is pivotal in the Act East policy of India.
    • Japanese Ambassador Suzuki said that
      • Assam and the Northeast occupy an important place in Japan’s vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
      • “That is why Japan is supporting various connectivity projects in the state,”
    • Assam Chief Minister also highlighted that
      • Despite the huge Japanese FDI in India, there was no Japanese company in Assam.
      • He used the occasion to invite the Japanese firms to come to Assam.

     

    About JICA assisted water supply project in Guwahati

    • The water supply project for Guwahati is under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) launched by the Ministry of Urban Development.

     

    • It is being implemented by Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) at Sadilapur, Jalukbari in the city.

     

     

     

     

    About Act East Policy

    • India’s Act East Policy was unveiled by PM Modi, at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit in 2014 held in Myanmar.
    • Act East Policy is the successor of Look East Policy.
    • Unlike Look East which focussed on Economic Cooperation with ASEAN nations, Act East focuses on the extended neighbourhood in Asia-Pacific and involves Security cooperation as well.
    • For Assertive Act East India needs to take the following steps:
      • Strengthen QUAD cooperation.
      • Competitive Manufacturing must be promoted for cheaper and quality exports.
      • Deeper economic and military cooperation ASEAN nations to curtail China.
      • Developing North East as Gateway to ASEAN and East Asia.
      • Leverage the soft power of Indian Diaspora and civilisational links.

     

    Source: IE

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