Lok Sabha Question No. 3121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Look East and Act East Policy
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: THOKCHOM MEINYA

- 3121.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2016

## LOOK EAST AND ACT EAST POLICY

- DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the key principles and objectives of India's 'Look East and Act East policy';
- (b) the steps taken by the Government during the last two years to  strengthen  India's  relations  with  countries  in  South  East Asia;
- (c) whether there is any headway in the talks regarding Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); and
- if so, the details and the benefits likely to accrue to India as a

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) India's  Look East Policy (LEP) has been a major pillar of our foreign policy since the early 1990s. In the second half of 2014, LEP was  upgraded  to  Act  East  Policy  which  focuses  on  the  extended neighbourhood  in  the  Asia-Pacific  region.  The  policy  which  was originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional  mechanisms  for  dialogue  and  cooperation.  The  key principles and objectives of ''Act East Policy' is to  promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels thereby  providing  enhanced  connectivity  to  the  States  of  North Eastern Region with other countries in our neighbourhood.
- (d) result thereof?

(b) We have upgraded our relations to strategic partnership with Singapore in November, 2015. Thus we now have strategic partnership  with  Indonesia,  Vietnam,  Malaysia,  Japan,  Republic  of Korea  (ROK),  Australia,  Singapore  and  Association  of  Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and forged close ties with all countries in the Asia-Pacific  region.  Further,  apart  from  ASEAN,  ASEAN  Regional Forum  (ARF)  and  East  Asia  Summit  (EAS),  we  have  also  been actively engaged in regional fora such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Indian  Ocean  Rim  Association  (IORA).  Two  summits  of  Forum  for India-Pacific  Island  Cooperation  (FIPIC)  were  held  in  Suva,  Fiji (November  2014)  and  Jaipur,  India  (August  2015).  There  were several high level visits from both the sides.

In  addition,  various  plans  at  bilateral  and  regional  levels include  steady  efforts  to  develop  and  strengthen  connectivity  of Northeast with the ASEAN region through trade, culture, people-topeople contacts and physical infrastructure (road, airport, telecommunication, power, etc.). Some of the major projects include Kaladan  Multi-moda  Transit  Transport  Project,  the  India-MyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway Project, Rhi-Tiddim Road Project, Border Haats, etc.

In area of trade, the India ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for Trade in Goods was signed in August 2009 and came into force in January 2010. The trade increased substantially from 56.23 billion USD  in  2010-11  to  76.52  billion  USD  in  2014-15.  The  share  of bilateral trade with ASEAN is almost 10% of India's total trade. The India-ASEAN  Agreement  for  trade  in  Services  and  India-ASEAN Agreement on Investment have been signed in November, 2014. It has come  into force with effect from 1st July, 2015. These agreements are expected to strengthen the business and commercial relations between ASEAN and India.

(c) & (d) The 11th round of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership  (RCEP)  was  held  from  15-19  February,  2016  in  Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam wherein all the RCEP participating Countries had submitted their initial offers on goods, services and investment. The RCEP is intended to facilitate and thereby increase goods and services trade as well as investment flows amongst the participating Countries.

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