Conrad Sangma inaugurates the 7th Act East Business Show in Shillong

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma inaugurated the 7th Act East Business Show in the state capital Shillong on 25th March 2025.The three day Act East Business Show will be held in Shillong from 25-27 March  2025.

The 7th Act East Business Show aims to promote Meghalaya as a trade and investment destination and further the trade and business ties between India’s North Eastern region with the BBIN(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as per the Act East Policy of the government of India.

The North East Region of India includes -Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim. 

Act East Policy 

The Act East Policy was launched by the Narendra Modi government in 2014. It was the continuation of the Look East Policy launched by the PV Narasimha Rao government in 1992 to strengthen trade and investment ties with the Southeast Asian Nation.

The main feature of the Act East Policy are as follows:

• It has expanded the scope to include the countries of Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific countries;
• Create opportunities for  the  North East States by connecting with the Southeast  Asian countries in the field of Commerce, Culture and connectivity.

Who organises the Act East Business Show?

The Act East Business Show is organised by the Kolkata based Indian Chamber of Commerce In collaboration with a host state of the North East.

The  first Act East Business Show was held in 2014 and after that in  2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and in 2021. The 2021 edition was hosted virtually.

Participants of the 7th Act East Business Show 

The three-day event is  being attended by ambassadors and representatives of different countries including Josel F. Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India;  Jigme Thinlye Namgyal, Consul General of Bhutan to Guwahati; Thirapath Mongkolnavin, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of Thailand to India; and Dato Muzafar Shah Mustafa, High Commissioner of Malaysia to India.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN)

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) is a sub group within the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).

It was formed at the meeting of the Transport minister of Bangladesh Bhutan India and Nepali in a meeting at Thimpu, Bhutan in June 2015. 

At the Thimpu meeting the ministers signed the Motor Vehicle Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic (MVA) to build a network of road transport systems connecting the countries for overall economic development of the region.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) is a regional organisation of Southeast Asian nations that was founded in 1967.

ASEAN along with the European Union, is considered one of the most successful regional organisations in the world.

Members : 10 members- Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.

Observer Status- Timor Leste 

Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia

About Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC)

The  Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) is a business lobby group of industrialists and business organisation in India.

It was set up in 1925.

It is mainly focussed on Eastern India and the Northeast India.

GD Birla was amongst the founders of the ICC.

Headquarters : Kolkata, West Bengal 

President : Abhyuday Jindal

Read about India ASEAN Relations