India and Japan have launched India-Japan Initiative for Sustainable Development of the North Eastern Region of India for cooperation in health care, forest resources management, connectivity and tourism in different states of the North Eastern Region.

This was announced as part of India-Japan Summit Joint Statement Partnership for a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Post-COVID World by  Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Kishida Fumio and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi today in New Delhi. Kishida Fumio arrived in New Delhi for his first bilateral visit for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Modi.  

Both the PMs welcomed the launch of the “India-Japan Initiative for Sustainable Development of the North Eastern Region of India”, which includes “Initiative for Strengthening the Bamboo Value Chain in the North East” and cooperation in health care, forest resources management, connectivity and tourism in different states of the North Eastern Region.

Both of them appreciated the importance of their continued collaboration through the Act East Forum (AEF) for sustainable economic development of India’s North Eastern Region and for enhancing the Region’s connectivity with Southeast Asia.

India and Japan held the sixth joint meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF) on March 15 in New Delhi in which they reviewed progress of ongoing projects in various areas including connectivity, hydropower, forest management, water supply and sewerage, skill development and Japanese language education. They also exchanged views on possible new areas of cooperation.

Established in 2017, the AEF is a Japan-India framework to discuss various fields of cooperation with the aim of further expanding Japan-India collaboration in the North Eastern Region of India. Japan has historical ties with India’s North East and attaches great importance to cooperation for the development of this region, where Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision and India’s “Act East Policy” converge. Ongoing ODA projects supported by Japan in this region amounts to more than 246 billion yen (INR Rs 1,600 crore).

Agreements for 7 JICA Loans were signed for projects in connectivity, water supply and sewerage, horticulture, healthcare, and biodiversity conservation in various States. Of the 7 loans, two are for Northeast.