GUWAHATI: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, February 25 reiterated the Union Government’s commitment to the Act East Policy during the "Act East, Act Fast, Act First" session at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit in Guwahati. Addressing an audience that included Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, ambassadors, and business leaders, Jaishankar emphasised Assam’s role in strengthening regional connectivity, trade, and cross-border collaboration.
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Jaishankar highlighted the transformation in Delhi’s approach toward Assam and the Northeast since 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He emphasised Assam as a key hub for India’s Act East Policy, supported by the Purvodaya Scheme, which aims to energise infrastructure, employment, skilling, and development initiatives in the region.
The Minister also spoke about India’s growing engagement with ASEAN, mentioning the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), mobility arrangements, and technology collaborations. He described the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMTT) as a game-changer and urged efforts to accelerate its development. Jaishankar further emphasised India’s focus on BIMSTEC, its deepening cooperation with Japan and South Korea, and Australia’s growing role in regional economic integration. He also discussed the Neighbourhood First policy, which has substantially improved infrastructure and connectivity along India’s eastern borders.
Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma reaffirmed Assam’s ambition to actively contribute to India’s economic growth and the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He highlighted Assam’s historical and cultural ties with Southeast Asia, presenting the state as both a geographical link and a cultural bridge. Sarma also noted that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, Assam has gained unprecedented global attention, with a high-level delegation of 62 ambassadors and high commissioners visiting the state. He also emphasised Assam’s efforts to streamline trade policies with ASEAN, particularly through the revision of AITIGA, to enhance economic exchanges.
The session began with an introduction by Dr. Harsh V. Pant, Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at the Observer Research Foundation, who highlighted India-ASEAN collaboration in infrastructure, green energy, and pharmaceuticals.
Several diplomats also contributed to the discussion:
- Singapore’s High Commissioner Simon Wong praised Assam’s business-friendly environment.
- European Union Ambassador Hervé Delphin recognised the state's growing importance as a gateway to the eastern region.
- Bhutan’s Ambassador Major General Vetsop Namgyel welcomed India’s Act East Policy and mentioned the proposed Gelephu Mindfulness City project as a significant initiative for regional cooperation.
- Japan’s Ambassador Keiichi Ono discussed cultural and economic collaborations, particularly in infrastructure projects across Assam and the Northeast.
Other notable participants included Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, Assam’s Act East Policy Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, ASEAN-India Business Council Co-Chair Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, and Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi.
