LOOK EAST POLICY OF INDIA

India's Look East policy is an effort to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with
the nations of Southeast Asia in order to bolster its standing as a regional power and a
counterweight to the strategic influence of the People's Republic of China. Initiated in 1991, it
marked a strategic shift in Indias perspective of the world.[1] It was developed and enacted
during the government of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao (19911996) and rigorously
pursued by the successive administrations of Atal Bihari Vajpayee (19982004) and Manmohan
Singh (20042014)

1. HISTORY: Ever since the Sino-Indian War of 1962, China and India have been strategic
competitors in South and East Asia. China has cultivated close commercial and military relations
with India's neighbor and rival Pakistan and competed for influence
in Nepal and Bangladesh. After Deng Xiaoping's rise to power in China in 1979, China began
reducing threats of expansionism and in turn cultivated extensive trade and economic relations
with Asian nations. China became the closest partner and supporter of the military junta of
Burma, which had been ostracized from the international community following the violent
suppression of pro-democracy activities in 1988. In contrast, during the Cold War India had a
relatively hesitant relationship with many states in Southeast Asia and diplomatic relations with
Southeast Asia were given a relatively low priority?

India's "Look East" policy was developed and enacted during the governments of prime
ministers P.V.Narasimha Rao (19911996) and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (19982004).Along with
economic liberalization and moving away from Cold War-era policies and activities, India's
strategy has focused on forging close economic and commercial ties, increasing strategic and
security cooperation and the emphasis of historic cultural and ideological links. India sought to
create and expand regional markets for trade, investments and industrial development. It also
began strategic and military cooperation with nations concerned by the expansion of China's
economic and strategic influence.

1.1 Objectives of India's Look East Policy:

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 1. Regional economic integration and ties with ASEAN counteries- BIMSTEC, Mekong
Ganga etc.

2. Reform and liberalization - free trade agreement

3. Sustained economic growth

4. Development of northeastern states- connectivity with south eastern countries via roads ,
railways etc and infrastructure development

5. To balance Chinas influence in this region

6. Diplomatic engagement with southeast to border security and defense ties.

1.2 Approach for look east policy:

Organizing Milana congregation of navies organized by the Indian Navy biennially

since 1995 in Port Blair involving social and professional interactions, including
combined exercises. In 2008 11 Navies including Australia participated.
Becoming a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum(ARF)1996.
Completion of the 160 Km India-Myanmar Friendship road from Tamu to Kalemyo to
Kaletwa built by the Border Roads Organisation2001
Finalising the Kaladan Multimodal Transport project in 2009 especially in the context
of Bangladesh being reluctant to allow transit facilities. By this the port of Sittwe in
Myanmar (250 Km from Mizoram border)will be connected to the Indian ports and
Kaletwa (Myanmar)will be linked with the National Highway 54 at Nalkawn in
Mizoram.

1.3 Indias Look East Policy Turned Into Act East Policy:

Key Differences:

Look East Policy:

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 1. Driven by economic interests
2. Limited to South East Asia

Act East Policy

1. Driven by economic and security interests

2. More extended: South East Asia + East Asia
3. Underlines current geopolitics of the region
1.4 Act East Policy:

Two years into its term, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in India, led by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can feel satisfied with the progress on its Act East Policy (AEP),
which was launched at the East Asia Summit in Myanmar in November 2014.

Some analysts seek to dismiss the transformation from the Look East Policy (LEP), initiated by
Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in 1992, to AEP arguing that it merely represents a change in
nomenclature. A closer look would reveal that while there is continuity, there are several
significant areas where AEP has gone far beyond what LEP achieved in 20-plus years.This is
partly because the India of today is not the India of 1992, when it was facing an uncertain future
on the international policy front with the collapse of the Soviet Union and its foreign exchange
reserves having dwindled precipitously. India then needed to promote economic growth, which
was done admirably through LEP bilateral trade between India and ASEAN rose from $2
billion in the early 90s to $12 billion in 2001 and to $72 billion by 2012. Since then, however,
bilateral economic engagement has languished, partly due to the continuing international
financial and economic crisis and subsequent Eurozone sovereign debt crisis and anemic
international demand. India's Act East Policy focusses 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. India has upgraded its relations to 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

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(ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS), India has 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). Act East Policy has placed emphasis on India-ASEAN
cooperation in our domestic agenda on infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, skills, urban
renewal, smart cities, Make in India and other initiatives. Connectivity projects, cooperation in
space, S&T and people-to-people exchanges could become a springboard for regional integration
andprosperity.
The Objective 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 including Arunanchal Pradesh with other countries in our
neighbourhood. The North East of India has been a priority in our Act East Policy (AEP). AEP
provides an interface between North East India including the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the
ASEAN region. 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-
to-people contacts and physical infrastructure (road, airport, telecommunication, power, etc.).
The ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the period 2016-20 has been adopted in August 2015 which
identifies concrete initiatives and areas of cooperation along the three pillars of political-security,
economic and socio-cultural. India continues with stepped up efforts to forge closer partnership
with concerned regional and Multilateral organisation such as ASEAN, ARF, EAS, BIMSTEC,
ACD, MCG and IORA. On the Civilizational front, Buddhist and Hindu links could be energized
to develop new contacts and connectivity between people. On Connectivity, special efforts are
being made to develop a coherent strategy, particularly for linking ASEAN with our North East.
Measures, including building transport infrastructure, encouraging airlines to enhance
connectivity in the region, contacts between academic and cultural institutions are underway. Our
economic engagement with ASEAN has been stepped up regional integration and
implementation of projects are priorities. The ASEAN-India Agreement on Trade in Service and
Investments has entered into force for India and seven ASEAN countries from 1 July 2015. The
ASEAN-India Trade Negotiating Committee has been tasked to undertake a review of the
ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. India has also invited ASEAN member states to

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participate in the International Solar Alliance which it has co-launched with France on 30
November 2015 at COP-21. On strategic issues, we have increasing convergence on security
interests with key partners both in bilateral and multilateral format. Closer cooperation in
combating terrorism, collaborating for peace and stability in the region and promotion of
maritime security based on international norms and laws are being pursued.

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