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Act East Policy aims to promote cultural ties and relations in Indo-Pacific region. Learn more about Act East Policy, objectives, and features.
PWOnlyIAS
February 28, 2025
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Act East Policy aims to promote cultural ties and relations in Indo-Pacific region. Learn more about Act East Policy, objectives, and features.
Act East Policy of India was launched in 2014 by the Prime Minister of India to strengthen the economic, cultural, and strategic relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic with a special focus on ASEAN. It was expanded on the earlier Look East Policy to emphasize on connectivity, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties.
The Act East policy seeks to support India’s presence in the region through enhanced bilateral, regional, and multilateral engagements. Keep on reading to know what the Act East Policy entails, its objectives, key features, and its impact on India’s foreign relations.
The Act East Policy is a diplomatic strategy by the Central Government of India. It aimed to improve economic, cultural, and strategic relations with countries in Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region. It aims to expand India’s influence beyond its immediate neighbors by strengthening connections through trade, investments, cultural exchanges, and security cooperation. This policy shift from “Look East” to “Act East” signifies a more proactive and strategic engagement with the region.
The Act East Policy is characterized by several key features, which make it distinct from its predecessor, the Look East Policy:
These pillars collectively aim to establish India as a key strategic and economic player in the Indo-Pacific. Here are the three pillar of Act East Policy:
The Look East Policy was initiated in the early 1990s. It was primarily focused on economic integration with Southeast Asia. It aimed to enhance trade relations and investment. However, the Act East Policy was launched in 2014, and it was expanded to include strategic and security dimensions.
| Look East Policy vs Act East Policy | ||
| Aspect | Look East Policy | Act East Policy |
| Focus Area | Economic Integration | Economic, Strategic, and Cultural Ties |
| Geographical Scope | Southeast Asia | Indo-Pacific, including East Asia |
| Approach | Passive Engagement | Active and Proactive Diplomacy |
| Security Dimension | Limited | Strong Defense and Security Cooperation |
India has undertaken several infrastructure and connectivity projects under the Act East Policy to improve trade, connectivity, and cultural ties. These projects are strategically designed to boost connectivity, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties. Some notable projects include:
| Major Projects under Act East Policy | |
| Project Name | Details |
| India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway | Enhancing connectivity between India, Myanmar, and Thailand. |
| Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project | Connecting Kolkata to Sittwe port in Myanmar for better trade connectivity. |
| BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement | Facilitates seamless movement of passenger and cargo vehicles between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. |
| Mekong-Ganga Cooperation | Promoting cooperation in tourism, education, and culture. |
India’s Act East Policy plays a crucial role in shaping its strategic, economic, and cultural relations with the Indo-Pacific region.
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