Act East Policy of India, Objective, Key Features, Projects

Act East Policy of India is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening economic and strategic relations with Southeast Asian countries. Launched in 2014, it builds upon the earlier Look East Policy to enhance India's role in the Asia-Pacific region. India’s Act East policy focuses on economic integration, cultural ties, and strategic partnerships to promote regional stability and development.

What is Act East Policy?

The Act East Policy is an evolution of India's foreign policy that emphasizes proactive engagement with Southeast Asian nations. Act East Policy was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in 2014, as an upgrade to the earlier Look East Policy, which was initiated in 1991 during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

India’s Act East policy aims to transform India's approach from mere "looking" to active participation in the region's affairs. This policy seeks to strengthen economic, cultural, and strategic ties with the Indo-Pacific region to promote regional cooperation.

Enroll Now for UPSC Online Course

Objectives of India's Act East Policy

The primary objective of India's Act East Policy is to strengthen its engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN at its core. It aims to:

• Strengthening Economic Cooperation: Enhancing trade, investment, and economic partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Promoting Cultural Ties: Deepening cultural exchanges and understanding to strengthen better people-to-people relations.

• Developing Strategic Partnerships: Building long-term strategic partnerships through sustained diplomatic engagement at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.

• Enhancing Connectivity: Improving connectivity in political, economic, cultural, and social spheres to boost regional integration and cooperation.

• Regional Stability and Prosperity: Contributing to the overall stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region by collaborating on issues like counter-terrorism, maritime security, and disaster management.

Pillars of Act East Policy

The three pillars of India’s Act East Policy are:

1. Political-Security Pillar: Strengthening defense and security ties, with an emphasis on regional stability and counterbalancing external influences.

2. Economic Pillar: Boosting trade, investment, and economic cooperation, focusing on integration with global supply chains in Southeast and East Asia.

3. Socio-Cultural Pillar: Focuses cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections to deepen social ties and mutual understanding across the region.

Enroll Now for UPSC Online Course

Key Features of Act East Policy

The Act East Policy focuses on multi-dimensional relationships that span economic, strategic, cultural, and connectivity aspects and encompasses several key features:

• ASEAN at Centre: ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) are central to the policy, promoting strong ties with member countries and their related frameworks (ARF, EAS, ADMM+).

• 4C's Framework: The policy is built around Culture, Commerce, Connectivity, and Capacity Building to guide regional engagement.

• Economic Integration: Focus on boosting trade, investment, and integration with global supply chains in Southeast and East Asia.

• Strategic and Security Ties: Strengthening defense relationships with countries like Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines to counter regional security challenges.

• Connectivity and Infrastructure: Developing key infrastructure projects, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, to enhance connectivity.

• Multilateral Engagement: Active participation in regional forums like ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and the East Asia Summit to drive cooperation and integration.

List of Projects Under the Act East Policy

Several significant projects have been initiated under the Act East Policy, which includes:

1. India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway: A road project connecting India with Southeast Asia to boost trade and travel.

2. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project: Aims to connect India's eastern seaports with Myanmar's Sittwe port, facilitating cargo movement.

3. Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link: A rail project linking India's northeast with Bangladesh, enhancing regional connectivity.

4. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Along with the India-ASEAN Fund for the Digital Future, focus on enhancing digital connectivity and cooperation between India and Southeast Asian countries.

5. Mekong-India Economic Corridor: Proposed to connect India's east coast with Southeast Asian countries through integrated infrastructure.

6. Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme: Providing technical and capacity-building assistance to Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

7. International Buddhist Confederation (IBC): Promoting Buddhist heritage for closer cultural and spiritual ties with countries like Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

8. BIMSTEC Initiatives: Various projects under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation to promote regional integration.

Enroll Now for UPSC Online Course

Look East Policy vs Act East Policy

The Look East Policy, launched in 1991, focused on economic liberalization and establishing trade relations with Southeast Asian nations. In contrast, the Act East Policy, introduced in 2014, adopts a more proactive approach. Here are the key differences between India’s Look East Policy and Act East Policy:

In conclusion, Act East Policy is a strategic initiative that not only enhances India's regional influence but also contributes to the overall development and stability of the Indo-Pacific as well as the North East region.

To further understand India's strategic policies and their implications, consider exploring PW UPSC Courses for comprehensive insights and guidance!