India՚s Look East Policy, Trade and Investment, Development Cooperation, Science and Technology
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India՚s Look East Policy
Background
Launched in 1991 Why?
- In the wake of the collapse of Soviet Union India wanted to improve its relations with all major powers of the world
- India focused on South-East Asia as it was a growing market
- India wanted to go beyond the confines of SAARC to reap the benefits out of the economic potential of the South East and East Asian region
- To balance China՚s influence in the region
- Initially directed towards the SE Asian nations. But India has now included China, Japan, S. Korea and other Asia Pacific nations in the gamut of this policy
- The policy which began largely as an economic initiative has gained political, military and regional dimensions
Principles of LEP
Outcomes of the Policy
Strengthening Cooperation
- India-ASEAN relations have strengthened
- India became ASEAN՚s full dialogue partner in 1996
- Became member of ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996
- Since 2002, India has annual summits with ASEAN along with China, Japan and Republic of Korea
- BIMSTEC and Mekong Ganga Cooperation floated by India in 1997 and 2001 respectively
- India is also a founding member of East Asia Summit
Trade and Investment
- ASEAN is presently India՚s fourth largest trading partner after EU, USA and China
- FDI data
- Indo-ASEAN bilateral trade data
- India-ASEAN FTA signed in 2009 at Bangkok came into force from January 2010.
- However, FTA did not include software and information technology
- FTA is a part of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Cooperation signed with ASEAN in 2003
Development Cooperation
- India provides assistance to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines in the form of grants, soft loans, credit lines and training sources for their socio-economic development.
- As a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) , India has been engaging with these countries to provide assistance for capacity building
- MILAN naval symposium
Science and Technology
- India has set up a Tsunami Warning Centre to extend information exchange and data sharing arrangements with BIMSTEC countries
- Satellite sharing
Bilateral Ties
- FTA with Thailand and CECA with Indonesia and Singapore
- Enhanced defence ties with Malaysia
- Strong economic ties with China
- Strategic partnership agreements, economic interaction and defence cooperation with Japan
- CEPA with South Korea
Infrastructure Cooperation
- Asian Highway, Asian Railway link being discussed
- Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport facility is aimed at establishing connectivity between Indian ports and Sittwe port in Myanmar through riverine transport and road links in Mizoram
- Ganga-Mekong initiative
- Completion of the 160 KM India-Myanmar Friendship road from Tamu to Kalemyo to Kaletwa built by BRO
Education
Nalanda University
New Cooperation Area Could Be
- India՚s LEP can be furthered through areas like Education, human resources development, democracy, human rights and culture
- Furthering of trade ties
- Simplification of visa regime
- India-ASEAN health care initiative
- India-ASEAN Green Fund
- An Open Skies Policy
- Cooperation in fighting terrorism and transnational crime
- Tourism has a lot of potential
Look East and North-East
- NE states are land-locked and joined to India by a narrow corridor
- This has been a serious impediment for the development of the region
- North Eastern Region Vision 2020 makes a serious effort for socio-economic development of this region to match with the objectives of the Look East Policy
- Several measures have been undertaken under the aegis of LEP to uplift NE India
- Asian Highway
- Asian Railway Link
- Natural Gas Pipeline
- Kaladan Multi-modal transit transport facility (to Sittwe port through riverine transport and road links in Mizoram)
- Ganga Mekong initiative