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Hailing the ‘Act East’ policy, Neil Kromash, Deputy Director, Regional Affairs at US Department of State, on Tuesday, said West Bengal offered immense opportunities for further developing connectivity in South Asia.
Re-branding the Look East Policy meant that the new Act East policy has moved beyond mere rhetoric. Being the anchor of South Asia, India plays a leading role in this regional equation, he said.
“India’s re-branded Act East policy has moved beyond rhetoric and is taking shape across Indo-Pacific through summit level engagements with the ASEAN countries, trade agreements and other strategic investments meant to open new markets to the region,” Kromash said here on Tuesday.
He was in the city to address a two-day seminar on “Building Pan Asian Connectivity”.
Enhanced Regional Cooperation
Interestingly, Kromash pointed out that Bangladesh with its geographical locational advantage; and the political transition of Myanmar has provided “great opportunities” for enhanced regional cooperation in South Asia.
“Bangladesh… is sometimes overlooked in the discussion about regional connectivity, but it shouldn’t be….Strategically situated at the intersection of China, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, Bangladesh enjoys advantageous geography that makes it an ideal hub for connectivity,” he said.
The political turmoil notwithstanding, the US of A will continue to engage with the country and strengthen bilateral ties. Regional economic cooperation will be high on their agenda.
Political Transition
On Myanmar, he said that the political transition that got under way in 2011 has seen the “emergence of significant opportunity” on the country. The improving economic climate has a big role to play in ensuring free flow of goods and services across borders.
“As the undeniable conduit between South and Southeast Asia, Myanmar and its improving economic climate has a big role to play in the region’s future capacity to ensure free flow of goods and services across borders,” Kromash said.
Similarly, positive developments have also taken place in Sri Lanka where the January elections brought a new government by “overthrowing a longstanding autocratic regime”.
“The US will do all it can to support the new government in restoring democracy and heal fragile ethnic tensions,” he added.
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