New Delhi. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj chaired an Interactive Session with Chief Ministers of North Eastern States on India’s Act East Policy in New Delhi May 4.

Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Niti Aayog; Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam; N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur; Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya; Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland; Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura and Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and Gen. (Dr.) V. K. Singh (Retd.), Minister of State for External Affairs participated in this Meeting.

This Meeting followed up on an earlier Meeting chaired by EAM with the Governors of the North Eastern States in November 2017.

The EAM stated that State Governments of the Northeastern region were active stakeholders in India’s Act East Policy. Greater connectivity and economic integration of India’s North East with its eastern neighbours was considered a key focus area for growth and development of the region.

India’s Act East Policy had received a major boost following the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, which was held in New Delhi 25 January 25.

The Meeting deliberated on the North Eastern region’s intra-regional and sub-regional surface and air linkages, focusing on seamless connectivity with its contiguous neighbourhood. Continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders was also discussed with a view to enhancing trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties.

Representatives from concerned Ministries of Government of India and the governments of the North Eastern States were present in this Meeting.