The Govt. of Assam thus seeks to work together in a unified manner with the relevant Central Government Ministries [viz. External Affairs, Commerce and Industry, DONER, Home Affairs, Railways, Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, Civil Aviation, Water Resources, Telecommunication, Electronics and Information Technology and Culture], the Niti Aayog as well as the Governments of the other 7 North Eastern States – eschewing the Silo Vision mentality and imbibing the spirit of Cooperative Federalism – for making the region an industrial hub in a platform for launching of the Act East Policy, and not remain a transitory corridor through the “chicken-neck” with the rest of India.
The modus operandi of the Act East Policy Affairs shall involve the following:
- Correspondence with Central Government Ministry/ Department/ Agency implementing projects in furtherance of the Act East Policy – for monitoring of such projects and facilitating coordination with local stakeholders.
- Correspondence with local stakeholders to facilitate Central Government projects mentioned at (1).
- Review of projects mentioned at (1) at a local level, and identify problems of implementation (if any). Seeking resolution of the problems on behalf of the State Government.
- Devising of projects for the State Governmentfor accomplishment of the 4 (four) stated objectives under Act East Policy through the medium of the Research and Development (R&D) Team and the Think Tank.
- Identification of State GovernmentDepartment/ Agency for actual implementation of such projects.
i) Correspond with such Departments/ Agencies concerned.
ii) Have meetings and working sessions to prepare DPRs, Plans and Estimates, etc
iii) Ensure starting of the implementation of such projects by the Departments/ Agencies concerned.
- Handholding the State GovernmentDepartment/ Agency implementing such projects and regular monitoring of such projects by:
i) soliciting regular progress reports;
ii) conducting joint inspections (if there is scope for that);
iii)coordinating with other relevant stakeholders in order to facilitate smooth implementation of such projects; and
iv) having regular review meetings with Govt. Departments and agencies, as well as other stakeholders for assessing progress of such projects and addressing problems that may arise in implementation
- Reviewing progress of projects and programmes being implemented by other State GovernmentDepartments and Agencies on their own in furtherance of the Act East Policy – by:
(i) receiving information/ intimation of such projects and programmes from the State GovernmentDepartments and Agencies concerned;
(ii) soliciting regular progress reports;
(iii) conducting joint inspections (if there is scope for that);
(iv) coordinating with other relevant stakeholders in order to facilitate smooth implementation of such projects; and
(v) having regular review meetings with Govt. Departments and agencies (if deemed necessary mutually).
- Correspondence on behalf of the State Government of Assam with the State Governments of other North Eastern States [as well as stake-holder Departments and Agencies of such State Governments] for effective implementation of ongoing and newly proposed projects under different facets of the Act East Policy of mutual stake and/ or importance. In regard of such projects, the Department, in association withrelevant stakeholder Department/ Agency of the State Government of Assam, shall –
(i) solicit and analyze reports;
(ii) oversee joint inspections (if deemed necessary); and
(iii) organize/ attend meetings for reviewing such projects and/ or ensuring proper coordination in implementation.
- Correspondence on behalf of the State Government of Assam withrelevant academic, trade and cultural institutions – both public and private – for effective implementation of ongoing and newly proposed projects under different facets of the Act East Policy. In regard of such projects, the Department shall –
(i) solicit and analyze reports;
(ii) share findings with relevant stakeholder Department/ Agency of the State Government of Assam,
(iii) oversee joint inspections of the academic, trade and cultural institutions with relevant stakeholder State Government Department/ Agency (if deemed necessary); and
(iv) organize/ attend meetings for ensuring proper coordination in implementation.
- Organising regular general review meetings and project-specific summits for effecting inter-Departmental coordination
- Setting up of a Think Tank involving eminent thinkers and policy-makers for charting the roadmap of Act East Policy. The Think Tank shall engage in fruitful interaction with similar policy think tanks across the entire South and South Asian region.
- The Research and Development (R&D) Team of the Department – comprising Research Officers, External Consultants and an OSD deputed from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat – shall:
(i) engage in policy generation and documentation, project implementation and performance assessment, and other related aspects of the Act East Policy vis-à-vis the State of Assam;
(ii) devise such policies ensuring that the aspirations of the State and the region are respected and accommodated in the process; (iii) document such policies and deduce the actionable points therefrom;
(iv) convert of actionable points into specific projects in coordination with the technical personnel of the relevant stakeholder Department/ Agency of the State Government; and
(v) conduct Feasibility Study (if required), and prepare Detailed Project Reports of such projects in coordination with the technical personnel of the relevant stakeholder Department/ Agency of the State Government.
- Setting up of Front Desks of AEPA Department in (or under the aegis of) the Embassies/ HCs of India in ASEAN and BBN Countries – for facilitating Trade & Cultural Exchanges of these countries with Assam.
- Facilitation of trade delegations to and from ASEAN and BBN bloc countries – in association with Trade Bodies and the Industries & Commerce Department of the State Government.
- Promote educational exchanges and technical collaboration with ASEAN and BBN bloc countries – in association with the Education and Science & Technology Departments respectively of the State Government
- Promote mutual tourism with ASEAN and BBN bloc countries – in association with the Tourism Department of the State Government and associated agencies like Directorate of Tourism and Assam Tourism Development Corporation.
- Facilitation of cultural exchanges with ASEAN and BBN bloc countries – in association with Cultural Affairs Department of the State Government and agencies like Indian Council for Cultural Exchange (ICCR) under the Ministry of External Affairs
- Participation in summits and workshops in ASEAN and BBN bloc countries – in association with the relevant stakeholder Department/ Agency of the State Government
