The Act East Policy and India's North East

Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(II) | September - 2025 44 The Act East Policy and India’s North East Dr. Nazmul Hussain Laskar Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Government Model College, Katlicherra, Hailakandi, Assam Email: [email protected] Manuscript ID: JRD -2025(I)-170907 ISSN: 2230-9578 Volume 17 Issue 9(II)| Pp. 44-48 Sept. 2025 Submitted: 9 Aug. 2025 Revised: 20 Aug. 2025 Accepted: 20 Sept. 2025 Published: 30 Sept. 2025 Abstract The Look East Policy was renamed the Act East policy by the Indian government in an effort to strengthen its cultural, strategic, and economic ties to East and Southeast Asia. The Act East policy was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 12th East Asian summit in Myanmar in November 2014. Strengthening strategic ties and the culture of economic development are the main goals of the Act East policy, which aims to advance the nation's remote Northeast. The four pillars of the Act East Policy are culture, connectivity, commerce, and capacity building. An effort has been made in this study to comprehend the main goals of the Act East Policy and how it affects northeastern India. Keywords: Act East Policy, North East India, Look East Policy, Development, Project. Introduction The "Act East" policy was introduced by the Indian government in 2014 with the goal of enhancing India's ties with East and Southeast Asia. Initiatives to improve connectedness, interpersonal interactions, and cultural linkages with the area were all part of this approach. It also included a stronger emphasis on the region's strategic significance, especially in light of China's expanding power. India's Look East Policy has been updated to become the Act East Policy. The Look East Policy of India, which was first implemented by the P. V. Narasimha Rao government in the early 1990s, is being carried on by the Act East Policy. The importance of India's northeast is emphasized by the Act East Policy, which rightly recognizes it as the nation's gateway to East and Southeast Asia. The development of the northeast region is given primary emphasis under the Act East Policy. The northeastern states are bordered by five Asian nations. Myanmar shares a long border with Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram all share an international border with Bangladesh. Bhutan shares borders with Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. As a result, the North-East of India connects the two Asian subregions of South Asia and South-East Asia. Both could result in the construction of the infrastructure required for economic growth and development. North-East India has the potential for both natural and human resources in addition to its geographic ties. In this scenario, the Act East Policy can be very helpful in linking the Northeastern area of India to both other parts of India and other nations. Thus, North-East India is likewise included by the Act East Policy. Quick Response Code: Website: https://jrdrvb.org/ DOI: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work noncommercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations ae licensed under the idential terms. Address for correspondence: Dr. Nazmul Hussain Laskar, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Government Model College, Katlicherra, Hailakandi, Assam How to cite this article: Nazmul Hussain Laskar (2025). The Act East Policy and India’s North East. Journal of Research & Development, 17(9(II)), 44-48. Original Article Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(II) | September - 2025 45 Because North-East India and South-East Asia are connected, there is an opportunity for socioeconomic development and transformation in this area. For all of these reasons, the Act East Policy prioritizes the growth of the Northeast. The Act East Policy: Major Objectives  The Act East policy uses systematic bilateral and multilateral corporation to promote stronger cultural, strategic, and financial ties with the Asia Pacific nations.  The new Act East policy aims to increase commerce, investment, and infrastructure development in the Northeastern part of India in order to increase connectivity.  The policy will search for further opportunities for business and commerce in the Asia Pacific area.  The Act East policy aspires for encompassing the influence of China in the East and South East Asia region.  The Act East policy will work as an impediment to China's debt trap policy in East Asian countries by framing greater economic ties with East Asian nations. Act East Policy and North-East India: Developmental Projects The restoration and renovation of heritage cultural sites in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam [CLMV], the establishment of a Satellite Tracking and Telemetry Center (TTC) Image Processing Facility in Vietnam, the IndiaMyanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project, the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, Port Connectivity with Thailand and Indonesia, Quick Impact Projects (QIP) under the MGC framework, scholarships and fellowships, and the creation of a Center for Excellence in Software Development and Training in CLMV countries , Myanmar Institute of Information Technology (MIIT) in Mandalay and Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education (ACARE) at Yezin Agricultural University in Nay Pyi Taw, setting up of Centres for Excellence in IT (CEITs) in Fiji, Cook Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Niue and Vanuatu. are some of the major ongoing projects related to the Act East Policy. The Government of India has undertaken projects for connectivity of Northeastern states through Myanmar and Bangladesh. In addition, a few other significant projects are listed below. Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project This project gives India vital access to the area and is a significant component of the Act East agenda. The project's goal is to establish an alternate route between the landlocked North-East and the rest of India by offering alternative connectivity to the North East Region from the Kolkata/Haldia port via Sittwe Port-Kaladan River up to Paletwa in Myanmar via waterway and Paletwa to Zorinpui by road in Mizoram. The key ministry for implementation is the Ministry of External Affairs. For this project, the Project Development Consultant (PDC) is the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Although the project's original completion date was set for 2014, it is anticipated that it would be completely operational by March 2023. Additionally, Aizawl and Sittwe Port in Myanmar are connected by the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP). The project connects Mizoram with the Bay of Bengal deep seaport in Rakhine state, Myanmar, by combining an inland waterway and a highway. It intends to build a 109-kilometer road connecting the Paletwa River port to Zorinpui on the Myanmar-Mizoram border, as well as to improve Sittwe to accommodate 20,000-ton vessels dredging the River Kaladan from Sittwe to Paletwa, a 158-kilometer span. ASEAN Highway Project The ASEAN Highway network, which connects to Myanmar at the border town of Moreh via Dimapur, Kohima, and Imphal, and the existing NH-39 & NH-36 of Assam, also offers a road connectivity to Southeast Asian nations. With plans to link Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia with the same highway network, this route takes great significance. Without a doubt, this will alter the current state of the nation's economic development. Between km 91/0 and 162/0, 71 km of NH-36 have already been converted to two lanes with paved shoulders as part of SARDP-NE (Phase-A). Already, the route has been designated as Asian Highway No. 1. Through Myanmar, the 1,360-kilometer India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT) will link Moreh, India, and Mae Sot, Thailand. IMT travels across Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur with the primary purpose of promoting trade inside the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area. However, India mostly uses sea routes for trade with these nations. Consequently, coastal states such as Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu benefit. The Look East Policy does not pay enough attention to the land connectivity between these nations and India via the Northeast Region. Therefore, despite sharing land borders with ASEAN, NorthEast India has not benefited, according to the authors. However, the North-East of India is thought to be important Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(II) | September - 2025 46 under the Act East Policy. It is acknowledged that India and ASEAN are connected by geography. By offering a direct trade corridor between the areas, the India-ASEAN physical connectivity projects, such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, can help North-East India. This highway will provide an alternative route for trade and business between India and Thailand by connecting them via Burma. The project is expected to be completed by 2024. Myanmar and Thailand will be connected to India through the building of a 1,360-kilometer road that passes through the northeastern provinces of India. It is expected that the initiative will boost business and trade between India and ASEAN countries. The first phase of the three-phase project, which runs from Kalewa in Myanmar to Moreh in Manipur, is complete. The second section, which will connect Kalewa and Yargyi in Myanmar, is now under construction. Development of National Waterway -2 Project Inland Water Transport (IWT) has been approved by the Indian government. Projects pertaining to national waterway infrastructure are being developed in the North Eastern Region throughout a five-year period, from 2020–21 to 2024–25. At a cost of Rs. 461 crores, the government is developing Inland Water Transport (IWT) projects on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) from Dhubri to Sadiya (891 km) over a five-year period (2020–25). The creation of a navigable fairway with day and night navigation aids and terminals is one of the projects' most notable aspects. Through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, the NW-2 development allows waterway connectivity between the North East area and the ports of Kolkata and Haldia. The construction of the Jogighopa Terminal, an alternate route to Pandu Port, a ship repair facility at Pandu, and tourist jetties at Biswanathghat, Jogighopa, Pandu, and Neamati are the main interventions under this project. Development of NW-16& IBP route Project At a cost of Rs. 145 crore, IWT projects are being developed on the National Waterway-16 and IBP route during a five-year period (2020–25) with fairway maintenance, Least Available Depth (LAD), and navigational aids. The process of upgrading the terminals in Badarpur and Karimganj, including the Karimganj terminal's customs and immigration facilities, has begun. This project's main interventions are (i) building a terminal at Sonamura on the Gumti River; (ii) building a terminal at Maia on the Ganga River; and (iii) upgrading the terminals in Badarpur and Karimganj. To enhance connectivity with the North Eastern Region (NER) through waterways, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), and the Government of India have undertaken a number of infrastructure projects on National Waterway-1, the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, and National Waterway-2 through the Inand Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in accordance with the Act East policy. North-East Road and Air Connectivity This plan seeks to enhance connectivity both within the region and with the rest of India by improving the road infrastructure in the northeastern states. By 2024, the project should be finished. To promote trade and tourism, the Indian government has been attempting to increase air connection to the country's northeastern states. Several airports in the area have been renovated, and new airports are being constructed as part of the government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) initiative to encourage regional air connectivity. Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link A railway line known as the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link will link Akhaura, Bangladesh, and Agartala, Tripura, India. The railway line will encourage trade and tourism in the area while enhancing connectivity between Bangladesh and Northeast India. The project is anticipated to be finished by 2023, with the Indian government having finished 70% of the work as of March 2023. The goal of this project is to build a rail link between Akhaura, Bangladesh, and the Indian city of Agartala. It is anticipated that the project, which entails building a 15-kilometer train route connecting the two cities, will increase economic and interpersonal interactions between the two nations. Bamboo Development Project The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) aims to enhance the entire bamboo value chain, from production and processing to market linkages and exports. It does this by funding bamboo development initiatives under India's Act East Policy. Quality Planting Material nurseries, Primary Processing Centers, and Integrated Bamboo Parks are all part of the "Development of Bamboo Value Chain in the North East" initiative, which is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). These programs aim to increase rural incomes, provide goods to nearby companies, and create economic opportunities for farmers and artisans. Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(II) | September - 2025 47 Indo-Bangladesh Coastal Shipping Agreement Due to this agreement, both nations' coastal vessels are permitted to operate in each other's waters and transport goods to and from India's northeastern states. The deal should increase trade between Bangladesh and India and cut down on time and expense associated with transportation. Indo-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline is a 130-kilometer pipeline that will link Parbatipur, Bangladesh, with Siliguri, West Bengal, India. By carrying diesel from India to Bangladesh, the pipeline will foster energy cooperation between the two nations. The Indian government is scheduled to finish the project by 2023, having finished 80% of the work as of March 2023. The Indian government is keeping a careful eye on the progress of these projects, which are in varying states of completion. It is anticipated that these initiatives will strengthen links with ASEAN nations and provide the northeastern Indian states with strategic and economic advantages. All things considered, the Act East Policy has greatly advanced Northeast India's connectivity and encouraged trade and tourism. It is anticipated that the completion of the aforementioned projects will further boost the wealth and economic growth of the area. Conclusion As of yet, North East India has not seen any noteworthy results from India's expanding relations with South East and East Asian nations. It is imperative that the economic and security conditions in Northeast India improve, and this should be acknowledged as a primary goal of the Act East Policy. Since North East India is a crucial component of the Act East Policy, more appropriate projects and plans must be created. The ongoing initiatives and plans must be carried out effectively, within the allotted time and budget. In the past, North East India was largely unconnected. When the Look East Policy was being implemented, it was essentially ignored. Therefore, until North East India's economic development is guaranteed, the Act East Policy will not reach its full potential. The Act East Policy should strengthen ties between North East India and its neighbours, such as Bangladesh and Myanmar, and hasten the region's economic development. In addition to changing the focus of interaction from economic concerns to a more comprehensive agenda that includes security cooperation, Act East also envisions the improvement of Northeast India through a number of connections. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Facility, recently agreed upon by India and Myanmar, aims to connect Indian ports on the eastern seaboard with Sittwe Port in Myanmar. From there, it will be possible to transport goods to Northeast India via road and riverine transportation to Mizoram. At the second India-Myanmar border trade point at Rih-Zowkhathar in the Mizoram sector, work is also being done to upgrade the infrastructure, especially the road connections. In addition to building road connections, work is being done to provide a train connection from Jiribam, Manipur, to Hanoi, Vietnam, via Myanmar, via the border town of Moreh. Direct flights from Guwahati to Imphal, Hanoi, and Ho-Chi Minh City are possible thanks to the Ganga Mekong program. However, the actual state-level infrastructure development work is still unfinished. For the Northeast to gain from the Act East Policy, that is a crucial prerequisite. Additionally, because of their geographic proximity, trade between the Northeastern states of India and the ASEAN nations needs to grow. Any effort to promote deeper connections with the ASEAN nations must also involve the people of this region. When developing measures as part of India's Act East Policy, the central government should also consider the opinions of the chief ministers in this area. The Act East Policy would aid in the creation of peace in this area plagued by insurgency once Northeast India starts to benefit from it. 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