As the vital land bridge connecting the subcontinent to Southeast Asia, India’s Northeast constitutes the geopolitical fulcrum of its 'Act East' and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Robust infrastructure and security frameworks within this region are essential for realising a stable Indo-Pacific. Such development fosters resilient supply chains and counters transnational threats, effectively mitigating adverse external influences.
The U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific (USSFIP): North Eastern Dialogue, organised by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, explores the geostrategic centrality of India’s Northeast to delineate operational frameworks for advancing convergent India-US interests in the Indo-Pacific. Through six policy dialogues in the Northeast and two national-level dialogues in Kolkata and New Delhi, the project facilitates multi-stakeholder interaction, engaging 200 delegates from the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. The Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura Chapters of the Dialogue were held on 26 November 2024, 13 December 2024, 7 May 2025, 10-11 July 2025, 25 September and 29 October 2025, respectively.
Each of these convened over 30 delegates who, alongside their deliberations, also participated in two surveys. The pre-dialogue survey was designed to gauge their existing awareness of the U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific and their perceptions about potential India-US collaboration in trade connectivity and economic prosperity in India’s Northeast. The post-dialogue survey recorded the changes (if any) in their opinions after participating in the Dialogue. The findings from these surveys were compiled into a Report.
The objective of the National Pre-Dissemination Dialogue- Kolkata Chapter, held on 16 January 2026 at The American Centre, Kolkata, was to analyse the Report’s findings and delve deeper into trade connectivity and economic prosperity in India’s Northeast in view of the possibilities of potential India-US cooperation in this region against the backdrop of their converging interests in the Indo-Pacific. The Inaugural Session of the Kolkata Chapter was initiated with a Welcome Address by Nilanjan Ghosh, Vice President, Development Studies, ORF and Director, ORF Kolkata. His remarks were followed by a Special Address by Kathy Giles-Diaz, Consulate General, U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata. The project’s agenda and objectives were subsequently introduced by Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, Senior Fellow, Neighbourhood Studies Initiative, ORF.
In a special segment, as a follow up to the Inaugural Session, two digital presentations were delivered by, Abigail Bard, Quad Team Coordinator U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Office of India and Bhutan Affairs, on “The National Security Strategy and Economic Engagement via the Quad” and Jeffrey Wang, Quad Team Lead, Political Officer, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Office of Regional and Security Policy (EAP/RSP), on “The Quad and Maritime Security”.
The Kolkata Chapter featured two Round Table discussions, convening over 30 delegates from selected Northeastern states and Kolkata, including government officials, journalists, entrepreneurs, and business communities. The associations and business chambers included the American Chamber of Commerce in India, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Mizoram Chamber of Industries and Commerce, the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Tripura Merchant Association, and the Tea Development Associations.
Before the First Round Table discussion on “Economic Prosperity for India’s Northeast: Strategic Significance for the Indo-Pacific”, Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury highlighted the key findings of the Report on this theme. Nilanjan Ghosh moderated the discussion under Chatham House rules. The Initiators were Rupsikha Borah Saikia, Director, Assam Industrial Development Corporation Limited, Government of Assam, Assam; K. Lalmingthanga, President, Mizoram Chamber of Industries & Commerce, Mizoram; Anup Kumar Roy, President, Tripura Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Tripura; Ringyuichon Vashum, Director, Ukhrul District Women Institute of Micro-Credit, Manipur; Chimmon Ghosh Pakma, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Onlybees Private Limited, Meghalaya; and Malina Lepcha, Owner, Rehoboth Tours and Travels, Sikkim.
The floor was subsequently opened to comments from other participants which included, Pu C.C. Lalchhuangkima, Chief Executive Officer, Smart City Mission, Mizoram who joined virtually; Ambarish Dasgupta, Founder & Senior Partner, Intueri Consulting LPP, West Bengal; Pranjal Baruah, Assistant Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Assam; Tushar Kanti Chakraborti, President, Tripura Merchant Association, Tripura; Priyam Sengupta, Regional Director, American Chamber of Commerce in India, West Bengal; Bimugdha Das Mahanta, Founder, Bhuban’s Ventures, Assam; Subhasis Dhar, Governance Advisory Specialist, Former Director, PwC; Jayanta Debnath, Editor, Tripurainfo, Tripura; Subhas Bhattacharjee, Advisor - Palm Plantations, Patanjali Foods Limited, Co-chairman of Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing, Indian Chamber of Commerce in North Eastern Region, Assam and Nar Bahadur Chettri, Editor, Sikkim Jankhabar, Sikkim.
Before commencing the second Round Table Discussion on “Northeast Nexus: Weaving Northeast into the Connectivity Networks”, Sohini Bose, Associate Fellow, Neighbourhood Studies Initiative, ORF, and Project Coordinator, USSFIP Northeastern Dialogue, presented the Report’s findings on this purview. The Discussion was moderated by Anirban Sarma, Director, Digital Societies Initiative, ORF, under Chatham House rules. The Initiators were; Rajeev Mishra, General Secretary, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, Sikkim; Priyam Sengupta, Regional Director, American Chamber of Commerce in India, West Bengal; Vima Vashum, Manager, Women Institution and Communication, Ukhrul District Community Resource Management Society, Manipur; Durba Ghosh, Bureau Chief, Press Trust of India, Assam; Henry Saingura, Chief Executive Officer, Ropuiliani Women Farmer Producer Company Limited, Mizoram and Raymond Rhaplang Kharmujai, Independent Journalist, Meghalaya.
Subsequently, open deliberations were held among Victoria N. Daulagupu, Project Manager & Lead (Policy and Strategic Programs), Onlybees Private Limited, Meghalaya; Padmini Konsam, Founder, Parables Earthenware, Imphal, Manipur; Mahesh Deka, Executive Editor, Northeast Now, Assam; Beerjurekha Samom, Trustee, Eta Northeast Women’s Network, Manipur; Rahul Karmakar, Northeast Correspondent, The Hindu, Assam; Debraj Deb, Independent Researcher, Tripura; Maggie Lalnunsangi, Founder & Director, DCM Timbercraft Pvt Ltd, Mizoram; Binod Tamang, Correspondent, Northeast Live, Sikkim and Prakash Adhikari, Sikkim In-Charge, Northeast Live, Sikkim.
As per the deliberations of the two Round Tables, the Report will be finalised and disseminated at the Delhi Chapter. The Vote of Thanks at the Closing Session was delivered by Samidha Redkar, Acting Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata.
This event report has been written by Sohini Bose and Sreerupa Basu
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