Lok Sabha Question No. 3905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Look East Agenda
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3905

To be answered on

Wednesday, July 17, 2019/Ashadha 26, 1941 (Saka)

## QUESTION Look East Agenda

3905.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH  EASTERN  REGION  be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of the Look East Agenda for the North Eastern Region;
- (b) the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  the  number  of  projects  under  the  said agenda till date; and
- (c) the future target under the said agenda?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

- (a)      Act East Policy focuses on strengthening India's relations with countries in the immediate  and  extended  neighbourhood  to  the  east.  ASEAN-India  Plan  of  Action (2016-20) adopted at the 13 th ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur in August 2015 and endorsed by Leaders at the 13 th ASEAN-India Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in November 2015, provides for a road map for cooperation between ASEAN and India across three pillars (a) political security (b) economic and (c) socio-cultural. A number of activities are held under the Plan of Action (2016-20) in  all  three  spheres  to  promote  ASEAN-India  relations.  A  few  of  them  have  taken place in the North-Eastern states, e.g. ASEAN-India Youth Summit held in Guwahati, Assam on 5-7 February 2019. ASEAN-India trade in the year 2017-18 stood at USD 81.33 billion, registering a jump of 13.64% over the year 2016-17.

The focus has been on the development and prosperity of the North Eastern states by improving connectivity, access and facilities to the region through various initiatives  including  improving  connectivity  of  North  East  Region  with  Bangladesh, improving access to North East from Myanmar to facilitate tourism and cross border connectivity,  promotion of  Land Border Crossing Agreement and  Integrated Check Post  at  Moreh  and  infrastructure  projects  like  India-Myanmar-Thailand  trilateral highway, Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar.

(b)   and (c)  Various projects are undertaken from Indo-Pacific Division's (formerly ASEAN  ML  Division)  budget,  and  ASEAN-India  Fund  (AIF),  ASEAN-India  Green Fund (AIGF) and ASEAN-India Science & Technology Development Fund (AISTDF) which have been set up by Government of India for undertaking joint projects with ASEAN Member States. These Funds are rolling funds and are replenished on need basis.

Under the 3 Lines of Credit worth about USD 8 billion extended by India to Bangladesh, GoI has undertaken several projects to enhance connectivity with our North East Region through Bangladesh. India  has  disbursed  around  US  $  1.04  billion  in  grant  projects,  and  has extended  concessional  loans  of  US  $  478.9  million  from  India's  LOC  amount  of around US $750 million to Myanmar. Projects on grant funding include connectivity Project, upgradation  of  69  bridges  and  building  the  Kalewa  Yargi  road  segment  on  the Trilateral  Highway. Our Line of Credit projects include purchase of railway engines infrastructure projects like Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport and rolling stock, establishment of data link, telecommunication projects etc.

*****