Look East Policy Would Fail Unless Northeast is Developed

Aizawl, Nov 6 : The Look East policy would not be a success unless India first develops its Northeast areas, former Indian ambassador to Myanmar Aloke Sen said.

Speaking at a seminar on India s Look East Policy: Implications for North East India with special reference to Mizoram at Pachhunga University College here yesterday, the former ambassador said, India should first develop the Northeast like China has done to its Yunan province.

As Yunan province is important to China s trade relations with south Asian countries, Northeast is to India s trade ties with Southeast Asia. Mizoram has special importance to the Look East Policy as it is the only state in India that shares boundaries with Myanmar and Bangladesh, Sen also pointed out.

Mizoram is an entry point for the Kaladan multi modal transport project, he said.

While pointing out that Myanmar was keen to have close ties with India, the former ambassador to Myanmar said the North Eastern region would benefit from trade and commerce with Myanmar which was proposed in the Look East Policy.

The seminar was part of the Ministry of External Affairs distinguished lectures series and was jointly organised by Pachhunga University College s political science and the MEA.