The "Act East Policy" of India and "Trilateral Highway" of ASEAN and Thailand Connectivity

Abstract

This article is social science in qualitative research. It is data survey in preparation for the research plan. The objective is to study: (1) The progress of the “Act East Policy” of India in particular, rural development in the northeastern of India and along the Indo-Myanmar Border (2) India’s links with ASEAN by way of the “Trilateral Highway” (co-operation between India, Myanmar and Thailand) which will connect the town of Moreh in Manipur state to Maesot of Thailand. This study is based on data collected from government organizations and mass media of India as well as a short-term field study in frontier markets in these three countries. The results reveal progress in the related regional development projects of India together with physical links with ASEAN, whereby road communications serve as a major tool in this development. Furthermore, Buddhist culture has been introduced as a means to connecting communities socially. It is anticipated that, in the future, the economy will boom regionally, especially along this highway, and the locals have been invited to actively participate in supporting this development. These preliminary findings will be used to direct the research towards its next step.