A conference titled, “India-ASEAN Partnership@25” was held on 13 December 2017 at the Taj Mansingh. The event was organized by Kalinga International Foundation (KIF), a think tank that brings together the East and North-eastern region of India with its neighbors, the ASEAN states and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Philippine Ambassador Ma. Teresita C. Daza was invited to give an address in the Conference. The Ambassador spoke on the recently concluded 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits which was held in Manila, Philippines on 13 to 14 November 2017.
On the other hand, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was the Chief Guest during the inaugural session on the theme “India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership and the Act East Policy.” Minister Pradhan spoke on the historical and cultural linkages between India and Southeast Asia. He also mentioned the shift of India’s Look East Policy to Act East Policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration to further strengthen India-ASEAN relations.
Also, Guest of Honor Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North-Eastern Region, touched upon practical initiatives for overall economic development of the North-East and its economic integration with the larger region. Specific sectors that he mentioned were tourism, cross-border trade facilitation, connectivity, start-up. He emphasized the importance of North-east as an important engine of future growth for India.
The inaugural session was followed by a session on Economic Cooperation with ASEAN, Regional and Bilateral Cooperation, Security Challenges, and The Importance of the North East and Eastern Region of India for the Act East Policy.
