2.2.3. The Look East Policy

♤ Under PM Narasimha Rao & finance minister Manmohan Singh, India initiated upon the “look east policy”- The principal aim of the policy was to pursue a policy of active engagement with countries of South East Asia. Primary focus of this policy was the fast growing economies of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member- countries, particularly Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Burma/Myanmar.

♤ Factors responsible for India’s Look East Policy:$ 12 billion in 2002.(a) Trilateral Highway- India-Myanmar-Thailand ♤ Further, apart from ASEAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS), India has also been actively engaged in regional fora such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).