Staff Reporter
Guwahati: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, while participating in the ‘Act East, Act Fast and Act First’ session on the first day of the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit in Guwahati today, in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, said only when the Northeast and East realizes its full potential can the country progress.
This 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 key note address, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, reiterated the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to the Act East Policy, emphasizing India’s dynamic diplomatic engagements with ASEAN nations. He also highlighted Assam’s crucial role in strengthening infrastructure and economic linkages to facilitate deeper regional integration.
“As India recovers and rejuvenates, it is logical to have greater focus on East. We are not only correcting past mistakes, but also laying foundation for new opportunities,” Jaishankar said.
Saying that neighbourhood first policy of the Centre adopted since 2014 has made significant progress, he said only when the Northeast and East realizes its full potential, the country can progress.
Speaking at the session, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that historically, India has 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.
EAM S. Jaishankar led a huge delegation comprising the heads of missions, foreign delegates and others. The team arrived in Jorhat on February 23 and proceeded to Kaziranga National Park on Saturday. Jaishankar then headed to Guwahati where he participated in the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit today.
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