Interview with the Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Tarun Gogoi, on 22 February 2008 in Guwahati, Assam

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, declared Assam as the 'gate to the east' while inaugurating the Secretariat in Dispur in 2004. How far has Assam figured in India's Look East Policy since then?

Both the central government of India and state government of Assam have been working towards bringing the Northeast into India's Look East Policy framework. Various efforts are being made and areas are being identified for greater economic integration with the ASEAN region. Cultural linkages and potential for economic relations provide a suitable condition for the integration of Northeast with the ASEAN countries. Assam has been culturally linked with the ASEAN countries for centuries and occupies the most prominent place in the Northeast. Moreover, the Northeast is very near geographically to the ASEAN region. There exists a lot of potential in the region, including in Assam, for enhanced economic relations with the ASEAN and East Asian countries both in terms of investment and technology.

What are the potential areas for economic cooperation with ASEAN?

Gas exploration is an important area in which the developed ASEAN countries can invest and use the latest technology. Traders and businessmen from Southeast and East Asia can establish businesses here and invest in areas of potential benefits – floriculture, fisheries, food-processing, textiles, and bamboo products.

Tourism is another important area for investment in the region. Assam is very rich in terms of natural beauty, such as the mighty river, Brahmaputra, and wildlife and has scope for adventure tourism. Cultural tourism can also be an important area for cooperation since there are various historical religious places in the region representing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

What is the role of Assam in facilitating greater connectivity with Southeast and East Asia?

In terms of geographical proximity, the Northeast is nearer to the ASEAN countries than to the other parts of the country including New Delhi, whether by road or air. Both ASEAN countries and China have been historically connected by the roads. There is the Stilwell road, which was developed during the World War II, connecting Assam with the Yunnan province of China via Myanmar. The Indian side of the road has already been re-developed but it is the Myanmar stretch of the road, which needs to be really improved. Of course we can not develop their side of the road. We can only persuade them to improve the road on their side. From Assam, one can also go to Bhutan and further to Tibet.

Assam has also been connected by roads with Southeast Asia. The India-ASEAN Car Rally of 2004, which started at Guwahati in Assam and terminated at Batam in Indonesia, further highlighted the existence of infrastructural connectivity between the two regions. Therefore, roads already exist but there are some roads, which we need to improve. The real challenge lies in inter-linking these roads and this provides an important impetus to the Look East Policy.

Can you identify a few key policy initiatives, which the Assam government has taken?

The Assam government is giving importance to the Look East Policy and has taken various steps in this direction. The state government is actively participating in the meetings with ASEAN delegations. Last year, one meeting was held in New Delhi. Then subsequently we sent our delegation to Bangkok and will send another delegation in March to Singapore. Another important aspect is that each province in the Northeast is focusing only on those areas in which they can develop economic relations with outside players. For example, the Assam government is focusing on jatropha plantation for bio-diesel and sericulture and also muga silk from Assam which is world famous.

Companies from Thailand and Singapore are coming and investing in Assam. How much progress has taken place in this direction?

Some business companies have already started transacting and investing in the region. It will take time before more and more companies start investing. We cannot expect the companies to come and start investing in one day. The Look East Policy was started in 1992 but the Northeast did not even figure in it at that time. Though the idea was there, no concrete steps were taken. It is only now after the India-ASEAN Car Rally in 2004 that the region has begun to figure in the Look East Policy

What kind of roadmap do you have in terms of the number of years it will take to achieve your goals?

It is difficult to say how many years it will take. Even many people in India do not know about the Look East Policy. How can we expect people from the ASEAN region to come and do business with us in one day? They first have to realize the potential of the Northeast and therefore this process will take time. In fact, it is only in the last one year that the Northeast has figured definitively in the Look East Policy of the country. We need to wait before the Look East baby starts walking.

What are the key challenges facing Assam's 'Look East Policy'?

First, developing infrastructure in the region is the most important challenge. We need to develop road, rail and air linkages first among all the states of the Northeast. Then we need to connect the region with mainstream India and with Southeast Asia. Second, capacity-building has to be there in every department. There is a greater necessity for capacity-building in terms of jobs, education, and skilled labour. Education is the key priority. Finally, the power situation has to improve considerably if the region has to attract foreign traders and investment.

What is the level of coordination among the various states in the North Eeastern Council and how much is the Centre helping?

There is a good deal of coordination between different states of the region. Each state has different problems but we do not discuss them. We only discuss common policies such as industrial policy, communication policy, and so on. We expect each side to take more active interest. Even the central government is taking interest and helping us, especially two ministers - the Minister for the Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER), Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar and the Minister of State for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Jairam Ramesh. The Prime Minister, who has been elected from Assam, has also shown interest in the development of the region.