Department of Act East Policy Affairs

The Department Of Act East Policy Affairs () is a department in the state government of Assam, India which is responsible for the promotion of the Act East policy of the government of India and focuses on the promotion of economic cooperation, cultural ties, and developing strategic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels, thereby Providing enhanced connectivity to the states of the North Eastern region.

The department came into existence on 22 May 2017 under Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Two months following the creation of the department, Chandra Mohan Patowary was appointed as the inaugural minister of the department.

Objectives

The Department of Act East Policy Affairs has the following objectives:

• Economic integration with ASEAN and BBIN countries involving seamless trade and commerce, including the creation of industrial corridors and state-of-the-art border centres, as well as industrial collaboration.
• Seamless connectivity with ASEAN and BBIN countries on the lines of Panchapath (roadways, railways, airways, waterways and information-ways), including a multi-modal and fast transportation system and an effective telecommunication mechanism.
• Socio-cultural exchange with ASEAN and BBIN countries, taking into account the similarities in socio-cultural patterns, anthropological and ethnic backgrounds, and proto-religious practices between the people of the North-Eastern states and the aforementioned countries.
• Free movement of people with ASEAN and BBIN countries through the opening of consulates and assistant high commissions of these countries in [[Guwahati and having facilities for visa-free travel or visa on arrival for bona fide people.

Functions

The Department of Act East Policy Affairs is responsible for the following functions:

• Identification of ongoing projects of the Government of India under the Act East policy that are relevant and important for Assam and coordination with other relevant stakeholders to facilitate smooth implementation of such projects.
• Devising policies for the state government under the overall ambit of the Act East Policy, delineation of the actionable points of such policies, formulation of projects in furtherance of such policies; and identification of the state government department/agency for actual implementation of such projects.
• Coordinating and handholding of other state government departments and agencies for implementation of their projects and works relating to the Act East Policy and for interaction with relevant external agencies/stakeholders for effective implementation of ongoing and newly proposed projects under different facets of the Act East Policy.
• Organisation of conclaves and workshops on the Act East Policy, involving the academic fraternity, functionaries of trade bodies and other stakeholders; and participation in summits and workshops in ASEAN and BBN bloc countries, East Asian countries, and other countries of interest – independently or in association with the relevant stakeholder department/agency of the state government.
• Facilitation of research work, seminars, stakeholder meetings, trade fairs, exposure visits, community tourism, sports events (including cycle, motorcycle and car rallies), cultural exchange programmes and student exchange programmes undertaken by institutions, non-governmental organisations and individuals in furtherance of the Act East Policy.
• Facilitation of the opening of consulates/assistant high commissions of ASEAN and BBN bloc countries in Guwahati; and establishment of front desks of the state government in (or under the aegis of) the embassies/high commissions of India in ASEAN and BBN bloc countries, East Asian and Pacific Oceanic countries, and other countries of interest – to facilitate trade & cultural exchanges.
• Handling of affairs of non-resident Assamese people through the embassies/high commissions of India in ASEAN and BBN bloc countries, East Asian countries, and other countries of interest.
• Facilitation of the development of multi-modal connectivity (including internal highways, inland waterways, airways, railways, and information ways) with and through ASEAN and BBN bloc countries – in association with relevant state government departments.
• Promotion of trade relations (including exchange of trade delegations); academic and technical collaboration; student and youth exchange programmes; healthcare collaboration and medical tourism; community tourism and cultural exchanges with ASEAN and BBN bloc countries, East Asian countries, and other countries of interest – in association with relevant state government departments.
• Development of planned cities, to be termed "Act East Cities", on designated cross-border connectivity routes for facilitating trade and connectivity with ASEAN and BBN bloc countries and for decongesting Guwahati by serving as its counter-magnet areas, in association with the Urban Development Department.

Initiatives

Under the aegis of the department, the following initiatives have been undertaken to date:

• Opening of the Assistant High Commission Office of Bangladesh in 2017 and the Consulate General Office of Bhutan in 2018 in Guwahati.
• Special Session of ASEAN Countries during the 2018 Advantage Assam Global Investors’ Summit.
• Organisation of the 2nd ASEAN-India Youth Summit in 2019.
• Participation in the 9th Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair 2019 in Dhaka.
• 2nd Meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Committee on Border Haats in 2019.
• Bus tour to Bangladesh and Myanmar in 2019.
• India-Bangladesh Stakeholders' Meet, 2019.
• Agreement on Utilisation of the Chittagong and Mongla ports of Bangladesh by vessels from Northeast India in 2019.
• Conclave on "Act East Connect: Prospects and Challenges" in 2021.
• Conclave on "Act East Connectivity through Northeast" in 2021.
• Visit of Muktijoddhas of the Bangladesh Liberation war to Assam in 2022.

Organisation

The organisation of the Department of Act East Policy Affairs comprises:

• Additional Chief Secretary
• Principal Secretary or Secretary
• Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary
• Deputy Secretary

Ministers

Portrait		Minister	Term of office
From	To	Period
		Chandra Mohan Patowary	28 July 2017	10 May 2021
		Himanta Biswa Sarma (Chief Minister)	11 May 2021	9 June 2022
		Chandra Mohan Patowary	9 June 2022	Incumbent

See also

• Government of Assam