Assam Positioned as India's Trade Gateway to Southeast Asia

Guwahati: Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita confirmed that the federal government is positioning Assam as the main gateway to Southeast Asia. The push falls under the Act East Policy. Margherita told the Rajya Sabha on August 13 that the Northeast region provides India with the "shortest overland connectivity to ASEAN" and remains vital for trade, transport, tourism, and energy cooperation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati back in February 2025. Officials marketed the state as an Expressway to ASEAN during the event. A later roadshow in Kuala Lumpur pushed for investments in semiconductors, logistics, and tourism. The state also exported its first batch of GI-tagged Tezpur litchis to Singapore in June 2026.

Assam and Singapore have deepened ties through multiple agreements. A 2023 deal targets urban planning and sustainable development in Guwahati. Another deal focuses on nursing talent skills and new jobs. These moves follow a broader national strategy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reinforced these goals on August 8 during the 59th ASEAN Day, focusing on digital links and resilient supply chains.

Infrastructure remains the top priority. The government is backing the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. They are also using Lines of Credit to improve cross-border connectivity through Bangladesh. Efforts to sync these multi-modal projects continue under the Act East mandate.