NE specific policies must to feast on Act East Policy
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 31, 2022 -
IN view of the rail-line construction works progressing smoothly and Imphal poised to figure in the rail map of the country in a few years' time, the day seems not far off when travel to and trade activities with the booming economies of southeast Asian countries would become a reality.
While restive situation in Myanmar remains the only obstacle in actual materialisation of India's ambitious Act East Policy as all the trade and commerce routes will inevitably pass through the neighbouring country, which is currently under military rule, the slew of infrastructure development projects being executed in the northeast region demonstrate firm resolve of the Union government to explore and promote trade opportunities with southeast Asia.
Moreover, with the western, southern and northern neighbouring countries either maintaining hostility against India or not logistically conducive for huge surface trade and commerce activities, the eastern front is being seen as the better option as both Bangladesh and Myanmar are relatively friendlier nations and serve as the gateway to the ASEAN.
For far too long underdevelopment of the north-eastern states, especially transport bottlenecks and logistical issues in the mountainous region had been blurring the prospect of cementing trade relations with the mineral rich, and industrially and technologically advanced Southeast Asian countries.
However, with capital cities of most of the north-eastern states having rail connectivity and similar time-bound projects making steady progress, one could comprehend that the issue of poor surface connectivity would soon be buried in history and the region will hopefully become the trading hubs between India and Southeast Asian countries.
Such a bright prospect is exactly the reason why seminars and conclaves are being held in the northeast in the last few years, unlike in the past when such discourses used to be mainly confined to the national capital and occasionally in Kolkata.
While only time will tell how the state of Manipur will value and capitalise the experts' views and suggestions shared during the two-day conclave on 'Act East to Indo-Pacific: Role of Northeast and Indian States in Connecting the Connectivities', organised by Asian Confluence-Engaging Third Space in association with Ministry of External Affairs and Manipur University, it could be safely stated that economic progress of Manipur and the other north-eastern states will rest on preparedness of the regional governments to convert the opportunities into actual benefits.
As stated by chief minister N Biren during inauguration of the conclave on Saturday, the North East serves as a vital link for country with one of the most economically dynamic and politically significant geographies of the world.
Taking into account of the fact that there has been no serious socio-political upheaval in Southeast Asian countries, with exception of Myanmar, it is obvious that policy makers in New Delhi would be eyeing to sustain India's objective and growth story through healthy trade ties with its Asian neighbours and extend the same to the pacific region.
As such, there is strong possibility of realisation of the objective goal in case the regional governments join hands and chalk-up northeast-specific policies failing which the region will be good in only serving as transit routes for the Act East Policy.
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