India, Japan eye Northeast as gateway to Bay of Bengal and Indo-Pacific

GUWAHATI, July 3: India and Japan have identified the Northeast as a strategic gateway to the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indo-Pacific, signalling a renewed push to deepen economic integration, connectivity and industrial development in the region.

Addressed the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum along with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. It was gladdening to interact with business leaders from both countries, whose enterprise and innovation continue to add new momentum to the India-Japan economic partnership.… pic.twitter.com/hGXrYcDBw7

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2026

The significance of the Northeast figured prominently in the joint statement issued after the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed their commitment to developing industrial value chains linking the Northeast with the Bay of Bengal region.

In a significant endorsement of the region’s growing geopolitical and economic importance, the two leaders highlighted the strategic relevance of the Northeast in the context of India’s Act East Policy and Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.

Prime Minister Modi also appreciated Japan’s support in building both hard and soft infrastructure in the Northeast, including roads, bridges, healthcare facilities, forest management and disaster risk reduction initiatives.

The joint statement noted that Japanese and Indian enterprises are already engaged in economic activities in the region, particularly in the semiconductor and biofuel sectors, besides collaborating on skill development, Japanese language training and human resource exchanges.

The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to developing industrial value chains connecting the Northeast with the Bay of Bengal area in collaboration with regional partners and organisations, including the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

The statement’s emphasis on the Northeast marks a significant shift in how the region is being viewed by both countries—from a geographically remote frontier to a strategic economic corridor linking India with Southeast Asia.

The two sides also acknowledged the successful hosting of the sixth India-Japan Intellectual Conclave in Shillong in February this year and agreed on the need to convene the next meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum at an early date.

Established in 2017, the India-Japan Act East Forum has emerged as a key platform for cooperation in the Northeast, supporting projects ranging from connectivity and power transmission to sustainable development and disaster management.

Analysts say the latest summit underscores the growing importance of the Northeast in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and signals increased Japanese interest in investing in the region’s infrastructure, industries and human capital.

For the Northeast, the message from New Delhi and Tokyo is clear: the region is no longer India’s periphery but an emerging bridge connecting South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal economy.

Also Read: Meghalaya nears 10 Lakh Jan Dhan accounts, logs 32.76 Crore digital transactions

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

South West Garo Hills gets first cooperative retail outlet as Kerupara IVCS opens store in Ampati