Assam: Panel discussion on Act East Policy at Royal Global University
Guwahati
Royal Centre for Act East Policy Studies (RCAEPS) organized a panel discussion on “Status of Act East Policy- Prospectives & Prospects with special reference to Northeast India” at Royal Global University (RGU) on 14 June 2019. It was inaugurated by Chief Guest & Keynote Speaker Mr. Sajjad Alam, Deputy Secretary, Government of Assam, Industries & Commerce Department & Act East Policy Department in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) S.P.Singh, Vice Chancellor, RGU, Prof.(Dr.) A.K.Buragohain, Chairperson(Academics), RGU, Prof.(Dr.)Swabera Islam, Chairperson of the Royal Centre of Act East Policy,
noted panelists Prof. M.P.Bezbaruah, HOD, Department of Economics, Prof. (Dr.) Rajib Handique, HOD, Department of History, Associate Professor Dr.Rubul Patgiri, Department of Political Science from Gauhati University and Mr.Farid Shah, Business Expert and the august audience.
Mr. Sajjad Alam while delivering the key note address stated that Look East Policy of India was launched by the former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991 with the main focus to shift the country’s trading focus from the west and neighbours to the booming S.E. Asian countries. It was upgraded by the present government as the “Act East Policy” at the East Asia Summit held in Myanmar in November 2014. Connectivity to Southeast Asia through rail, train and air will boost trade and commerce and make India an economic power. It will also renew old cultural ties and Northeast will become the centrestage of activities. Prof. (Dr.). S.P.Singh welcoming all members stated that what had disintegrated during partition should integrate for Northeast India is pivot of Southeast India. The RCAEPS will be a repository of all activities on the Act East Policy and it will benefit academic scholars for information dissemination.
Panelists Prof. (Dr.) Rajib Handique, Prof. M.P.Bezbaruah, Dr.Rubul Patgiri, and Mr.Farid Shah discussed extensively the importance of trade ties with the southeast Asian countries which still shows cultural and linguistic similarities. Government should work together for an integrated market, especially infrastructure development in borders for trade through good rail, air and road links and institutional strengthening. Civil society must work together to erase xenophobia by accepting people from neighbouring countries as 98% of India’s borders are with different countries. Trade and commerce being the buzzword, the act east policy will assist in creating jobs in tourism, medical tourism, academic exchange, cultural relationships, food & textile, etc,.The Act East policy will encourage student and faculty exchange, various trades will thrive and travelling will cease to be a bother. It will buttress healthy political and socio-economic ties. India and Northeast stands to gain from the prospective & prospects of the policy.
RCAEPS shall engage in Policy Research with multidisciplinary approaches with faculty members drawn from various schools. It will explore collaboration with Universities and academia from the SE Asian countries for academic activities within the framework of the Act East Policy. The Centre shall organize programmes for People to People exchange for enhancing the appreciation of the region’s common heritage, culture and economic potentials. And finally, the Centre shall organize periodic Seminars and discourses to stimulate discussion on the various aspects of the Act East Policy.
