US Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific: North Eastern Dialogue | Tripura Chapter

Registration

Inaugural Session

Welcome Address by

Nilanjan Ghosh, Vice President – ORF Kolkata and Development Studies and Project Director, USSFIP North Eastern Dialogue

Inaugural Address by

Kiran Gitte, Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tripura

Project Introduction by

Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, Senior Fellow, Neighborhood Studies Initiative, ORF Kolkata and Project In-Charge, USSFIP North Eastern Dialogue

Panel Discussion I: Northeast Nexus: Weaving Tripura into the Trade Network

The Northeast is geographically positioned to be a strategic gateway to extend India’s outreach into the wider Indo-Pacific. However, it continues to suffer from gaps in connectivity infrastructure and low levels of transnational trade due to its difficult terrain and recurring political violence and ethnic conflicts, preventing its optimal utilisation.  Tripura, sharing borders with Bangladesh has a pivotal role to play in developing inter-country connectivity and boosting bilateral trade. However, recent political turmoil in the neighbouring country has thwarted such developments. In such circumstances, it is vital to analyse the prospects of resumption of stalled connectivity projects, and review the cavities in existing transportation links and chart ways in which these can be improved. The feasibility of developmental cooperation with the US in this regard is also an area of consideration.

Endowed with this objective, this session will explore the following key question:

1. How can Tripura play a more pivotal role in enhancing regional trade? What is the role of Border Haats?
2. How can Tripura’s surface connectivity be improved with other Northeastern states as well as neighbouring countries?
3. In the post-pandemic world, how can digital connectivity be improved in Tripura?

Expert Panellists

• Rejaul Karim Laskar, Director, Centre for Advanced International Studies, University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya
• Indraneel Bhowmik, Professor, Department of Economics, Tripura University, Tripura
• Debasis Nandi, Regional Administrator, Land Ports Authority of India,  Tripura
• Tridib Bhattacharjee, CEO & Advisor Astramind Consulting, Maharashtra
• E. Bijoy Kumar Singh, Department of Economics, Manipur University, Manipur

Moderator

• Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, Senior Fellow, Neighborhood Studies Initiative, ORF Kolkata and Project In-Charge, USSFIP North Eastern Dialogue

Breakout Session

Breakout Session I: Trade Trails of Northeast India: Linking Local to Global 

Moderator

Jayanta Bhattacharya, Senior Journalist (Retd.), Press Trust of India, Tripura. 

Initiator

Anindita Sinha, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Government Law College, Tripura

Breakout Session II: The Infrastructure Frontier: Northeast India’s Connectivity Needs 

Moderator 

Susanta Dutta, Head School of Logistics, Communication & Waterways, Tripura

Initiator

Rituparna Poddar, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Netaji Subhash Mahavidyalaya, Udaipur, Tripura

Break

In-Conversation

Nilanthi Samarnayake, Adjunct Fellow, Adjunct Fellow, Adjunct Fellow, Politics & International Relations, East West Center, Washington D.C., USA (virtual)

In-Conversation with

Sayantan Haldar, Associate Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, ORF (virtual)

Panel Discussion II: Unfurling Tripura’s Growth Story: Hindrances and Hope

The Northeast’s economic growth faces both significant opportunities and substantial challenges. Rich natural resources, potential for tourism, and improved connectivity offer considerable potential for economic revival. However, political disturbances, infrastructural deficits, and a lack of industrialisation present major obstacles. Limited infrastructural facilities hinders economic diversification and hampers the growth and competitiveness of the industrial sector in Tripura. In terms of sustainable economic growth, there must be a focus on the youth who can play a more vital role in driving the state's economic growth and creating a prosperous future. For the purpose of creating a stable environment that can support economic growth in the region, it is crucial to address these issues.

Endowed with this objective, this session will explore the following key questions:

1. What are the challenges hindering development in Tripura?
2. How can Tripura expand its economy and diversify livelihood opportunities for its youth?
3. How can physical and digital connectivity be an enabler for Tripura’s prosperity?

Expert Panellists

• Dipayan Ghosh, Chief Operating Officer, Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission, Government of Tripura
• R Arun Kumar, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife & Ecotourism Government of Tripura, Tripura (TBC)
• Subhrabaran Das, Professor & Head, Department of Economics, Tripura University, Tripura
• Abhirupa Roy, Assistant Professor,  Department of Tourism Administration, Tripura University, Tripura
• Jayanti Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Maharaja Bir Bikram College, Tripura

Moderator

• Ambar Kumar Ghosh, Associate Fellow, Development Studies, ORF

Breakout Session

Breakout Session III: People-to-People Connectivity in India’s Northeast

Moderator

Lalmalsawmi Sailo, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Maharaja Bir Bikram College, Tripura

Initiator

Monica Molsom, Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Tripura University, Tripura

Breakout Session IV:Reset the Economy: Unleashing Opportunities for Tripura’s Youth 

Moderator

Tridib Bhattacharjee, CEO & Advisor Astramind Consulting, Maharashtra

Initiator

Abhijit Dey, Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Tripura University, Tripura

Break

Panel Discussion III: Northeast India on the World Stage: High Ground for India-US Ties

Located at the juncture of South and Southeast Asia, India’s Northeast is a geographic pivot from which its multiple bordering countries can be accessed. In the era of the Indo-Pacific, where interconnectedness is essential among countries for mutual advantages and to address transnational challenges that affect people regardless of political boundaries, the time is ripe to unlock the Northeast’s true potential. Accordingly, the region has risen to the forefront of foreign policy interests of countries invested in the Indian Ocean region, which, together with India, seeks to create a free and open Indo-Pacific. India’s Northeast thus becomes a zone of their converging policy interests, and a natural platform for their collaborative initiatives towards developing a more free, open, connected, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.

Endowed with this objective, this session will explore the following key question:

1. What are the prospects for India-US developmental cooperation in the Northeast?
2. How can Tripura’s strategic geopolitical location be better utilised to make it a more integrated part of the Indo-Pacific network?
3. What are the challenges currently preventing the development of Northeast?

Expert Panellists 

• Biplab Debnath, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Tripura University, Tripura
• Udayan Das, Assistant Professor, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Kolkata, West Bengal
• Jaydip Chakrabarti, Senior Journalist, Tripura Times, Tripura
• Joyati Bhattacharya, Professor and Dean, Department of Political Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam
• Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi

Moderator

• Sohini Bose, Associate Fellow, ORF Kolkata, and Project Coordinator, USSFIP North Eastern Dialogue

Presentation of Scholars’ Audit Report

Post-Dialogue Survey

Closing Session

Break