Act East Forum: India, Japan to work on new projects in north-eastern region

NEW DELHI: India and Japan on Thursday not only reviewed the progress of the ongoing 15 infrastructure projects being undertaken in the eight north-east states of India during the 5^th joint meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF) in New Delhi, they also explored more areas of cooperation in the region.

Valued at 231 billion yen (appx INR 1,600 crore), the ongoing projects are being undertaken under the Official Development Assistant (ODA) from Japan government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Sikkim, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur.

The meeting was co-chaired by Suzuki Satoshi, Ambassador of Japan to India, and Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA (India), and Ashok Chawla, Advisor (Japan), MEA were also present in the meeting on Thursday.

Besides reviewing the ongoing projects including road connectivity, hydropower, sustainable development, the harnessing of water resources, and skill development, the AEF also discussed cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, agro-industries and SMEs, bamboo value chain development, smart city, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges in NE region.

A statement by the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi stated that in the meeting the key areas such as road connectivity, health (including water and sanitation), forest conservation, and people-to-people exchanges were covered to pursue further collaborations.

“The AEF was established in 2017 as a forum to conceptualize, evaluate and facilitate Japan-India collaboration in connectivity and developmental projects in and with the North-Eastern region of India. Japan attaches great importance to the cooperation for the development of India’s North East, anchored by its historical ties, trust, and friendship,” it said.

The North East stands on a place strategically important to realize a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific; and Japan is proud to have been a partner with the people of North East in their aspirations for a better and sustainable future.

Japan is the only country that has an independent framework for discussing the development of India’s North East and the one at such a high-level. Japan has been actively providing assistance to various projects in the region.

The ongoing ODA projects supported by Japan amounts to more than 231 billion yen (appx. INR 1,600 crore).

The AEF has been a driving force to coalesce the developmental efforts of India, its North-Eastern region, and Japan. The AEF provides guidance for the joint actions between Japan and India, as well as with the North-Eastern region.

According to an MEA release, both sides discussed several new projects being undertaken under India-Japan bilateral cooperation and also exchanged views on cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, agro-industries and SMEs, bamboo value chain development, smart city, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

“Foreign Secretary and the Japanese Ambassador appreciated the role played by the AEF since its establishment in 2017 in streamlining India-Japan bilateral cooperation for the modernization of the North Eastern Region. AEF provides a platform for India-Japan collaboration in the North Eastern Region under India’s “Act East Policy” and Japan’s vision for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” it added.

VITAL FACTS: North East: Main ODA projects

Total ODA: over 231 billion yen (appx: INR 1,600 crore)

ODA is broadly divided into bilateral aid, in which assistance is given directly to developing countries, and multilateral aid, which is provided through international organizations. JICA provides bilateral aid in the form of Technical Cooperation, Japanese ODA Loans, and Grant Aid.

Sikkim:

Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management (5.384 billion yen; 2010.03)

Assam/ Meghalaya: 

North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase3:25.483 billion yen; 2018.10) DhubriPhulbari Bridge

Tripura:

Sustainable Catchment Forest Management Project (12.287 billion yen; 2018.10)

North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase-4:14.926 billion yen; 2020.03) NH-208 (Kailashahar– Khowai)

Nagaland:

Forest Management Project (6.224 billion yen; 2017.03)

Assam:

Guwahati Water Supply Project (29.453 billion yen; 2009.03) • Guwahati Sewage Project (15.620 billion yen;2014.11)

Construction of a Vocational Training Center for the Poor women in Kamrup（9.9 million yen; 2016.03）

Mizoram:

North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase1: 67.170 billion yen; 2016.03 / Phase 2: 38.666 billion yen; 2017.09 ) NH-54 (Aizawl – Tuipang)

Project on Capacity Enhancement for Sustainable Agriculture & Irrigation Development in Mizoram (Technical Cooperation; 2016.10)

Meghalaya:

North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase1: 67.170 billion yen; 2016.03/ Phase 2: 38.666 billion yen; 2017.09) NH-51 (Tura – Dalu)/NH-40 (Shillong – Dawki)

Project for Renovation and Modernization of UmiamUmtru Stage-III Hydroelectric Power Station (5.497 billion yen; 2018.10)

Community-Based Forest Management and Livelihoods Improvement (10.397 billion yen; 2020.03)

Manipur: 

Construction of Primary School for Scheduled Tribe (7.3 million yen; 2012.03)

Construction of Secondary School for Scheduled Tribe (8.4 million yen 2018.03)