India’s Look East Policy: Relationship with ASEAN and Opportunities for North East India

Abstract

The intensification of the process of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation has led to fundamental changes in the global political and economic architecture. In this changing political and economic context, India needed to take timely initiatives to integrate its economy with the global economy, which led to the adoption of New Economic Policy. The New Economic Policy of 24th July, 1991 is known as the precursor to the Look East Policy (LEP) of India. The ‘Look East policy’ has been a major part of India’s international engagement since its economic opening in 1991. The Look East Policy was initiated with the objective of liberalisation of India’s economy and improving its economic situation in North East India region. This paper analyses the impact of the India’s Look East Policy on the growth and development of North East region of India. In general, the potential benefits of the Look East policy are not being fully utilised because of inadequate infrastructure and political ignorance.