Excellent impact of 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First' becoming apparen

Guwahati: The combined effect of the policies adopted by India, Act East and Neighbourhood First, is beginning to show. Saying that this has far-reaching effects beyond the Southeast Asian region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed satisfaction. The Foreign Minister spoke at a conference on ‘Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence-NADI’ held in Guwahati, Assam. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that India would make new history by overcoming its geographical situation by informing about its projects to enhance the connectivity of its north-eastern region.

India has launched infrastructure connectivity projects in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh. Citing that, Jaishankar said that India would benefit hugely in the future. India will reach Vietnam and the Philippines through projects to enhance the connectivity of north-eastern India by land via Myanmar and by sea through Bangladesh. This will present an opportunity to write a new history by removing the geographical barriers to East-West trade. The Indian Foreign Minister underlined the importance of these projects, saying that this will change the whole picture.

ASEAN member countries and Japan will also be more closely linked to India in trade. This will have a positive impact on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that this success will be achievable if the right steps are taken on the political and economic front. Foreign Minister Jaishankar presented a list of infrastructure projects endorsing his claim.

Six railways are being launched in India and Bangladesh. India is cooperating with Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar in various fields. An infrastructure project is being implemented in Kaladan, Myanmar. These projects are being challenged by the geographical location and the actions of terrorists. But India will not stop until this project is completed, said Jaishankar. The project connecting Kolkata and the Sittwe port of Myanmar will be operational in March 2023. At the same time, India is working on the feasibility of a plan to extend the railway line from Assam to Bhutan, Jaishankar said. Jaishankar claimed that the plan to connect Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and Bhutan could come true.

With the completion of this infrastructure project, India will be more closely linked with its north-eastern states and neighbouring countries. This will completely change the state of the regional economy. The north-eastern part of India will become a new centre of the economy. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that there will be a huge market for resources and skills with the opening of new supply lines.