Guwahati, Feb 26: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has asserted that the state wants to contribute to the nation’s progress rather than depending on its assistance.

“We are celebrating Assam’s success and its bright future. Our goal is to transform Assam into a state that actively contributes to the nation’s progress rather than one that depends on assistance” Dr Sarma said that the Prime Minister is deeply committed to the development of Assam and the Northeast.

Speaking at a high-level session titled “Act East, Act Fast, Act First” in the presence of Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Feb 25 in Guwahati, Dr Sarma said that historically, India had shared deep-rooted civilizational ties with the nations of East and Southeast Asia. Among these connections, the strongest passed through Assam and the Northeast, establishing the region as both a geographical link and a cultural bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Considering the importance of Assam, he said that his dream is to make Assam a contributing state to India’s growth, ensuring that the accomplishment of a Vikshit Assam and a Vikshit India by 2047 becomes fast and seamless.

The session organized as a strategic forum to advance Assam’s role in India’s Act East Policy, focusing on enhancing regional connectivity, boosting trade, and strengthening cross-border collaboration emphasized Assam’s position as the gateway to India’s Act East Policy.

The session explored opportunities for digital infrastructure development, trade expansion, and policy frameworks to accelerate economic integration with ASEAN and neighbouring countries. It underscored Assam’s commitment to becoming a digitally empowered, seamlessly connected state driving regional growth and cooperation.

Delivering the keynote address, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said Assam can act as a hub for our Act East Policy and the brand Assam grows stronger by the day. Neighbourhood First policy has transformed infrastructure and connectivity across our eastern borders and wholehearted commitment to bilateral and regional cooperation can take it further. ASEAN is a partner of enormous consequence. The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral (IMTT) highway can be a real game changer, and every effort should be made to advance it, noted the Minister.

The Chief Minister said that the Government of India, in its efforts to position Assam as a leading hub for trade and industry, is actively engaging with ASEAN nations to streamline trade policies, including the revision of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to facilitate smoother economic exchange.

Simon Wong, High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore delivering his address stated that the Prime Minister of Singapore is keen on exploring new opportunities beyond traditional sectors, with Assam being one such promising state. He also appreciated the state’s single-window system for ease of doing business.

Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India appreciated Assam’s rich human and natural resources. He noted that the European Union, one of the largest investors in India, now considers Assam increasingly important as the gateway to the eastern region as the Union is now ‘working east’.

Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of Bhutan while appreciating India’s Act East Policy said that the proposed Gelephu Mindfulness City will augur well in adding more meaning and vibrance in Assam. He highlighted that there are challenges in land connectivity, thus we need to focus on the effective utilization of air links, inland waterways and digital routes. He also acknowledged the support of the Government of India towards the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project.

Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan, spoke on the cultural ties and people-to-people contact between India and Japan. He also talked about Act East Policy and Japan’s association with Assam and other North Eastern states in infrastructure projects.

Read: Tribal body demands for separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zos in Manipur

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