Assam is fast emerging as a strategic gateway for India’s Act East Policy, leveraging its geography, infrastructure push and growing connectivity with Southeast Asia, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a regional development and trade-focused event, Sonowal said Assam’s location at the heart of the Northeast places it at the forefront of India’s economic and strategic engagement with neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Myanmar and the wider ASEAN region.
“Assam is no longer a peripheral state. It is becoming the gateway to India’s Act East growth, linking domestic markets with Southeast Asia through multimodal connectivity,” Sonowal said.
He highlighted major investments in roads, railways, inland waterways and logistics infrastructure, including the expansion of National Waterway-2 on the Brahmaputra, improved port-link connectivity and cross-border trade routes. These initiatives, he said, are reducing logistics costs and opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and manufacturing.
Sonowal also pointed to the state’s growing role in sectors such as tea, agriculture, hydrocarbons, renewable energy and MSMEs, noting that improved ease of doing business and policy support are attracting both domestic and foreign investors.
The minister emphasised that the Act East Policy is not only about trade, but also about people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges and sustainable development. He added that Assam’s young workforce and rich natural resources position it well to become a growth engine for the Northeast.
“With the right infrastructure and partnerships, Assam can serve as India’s bridge to the East, driving inclusive growth for the entire region,” Sonowal said.