India’s Northeast is at the forefront of India’s current strategic and developmental agenda. Positioned at the nexus of the 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First' policies, serves as an essential land corridor to Southeast Asian markets, which form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is thus integral to the country’s Indo-Pacific aspirations, which promote ‘ASEAN centrality’. However, to optimise the Northeast’s potential, the region requires the simultaneous development of robust connectivity networks, measures to promote local industries, and mechanisms that protect the viability of these supply chains.
The U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific (USSFIP): Northeastern Dialogue, organised by the Observer Research Foundation and funded by 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 230 delegates from the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. The Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Kolkata Chapters of the Dialogue were held on 26 November 2024, 13 December 2024, 7 May 2025, 10-11 July 2025, 25 September, 29 October 2025, and 16 January 2026, respectively.
The New Delhi Chapter of the Northeastern Dialogue was held on 12 March 2026 at The Park Hotel, New Delhi, convening over 30 delegates from the Northeast and other experts from the capital. The objective was to share findings from pre- and post-surveys conducted with participating stakeholders at each regional chapter, to analyse their perceptions of trade- connectivity, economic prosperity, and the strategic significance of the Northeast within the Indo-Pacific, before and after attending the Dialogue. To encourage further deliberations, the New Delhi Chapter featured three panel discussions on each of these themes. The Inaugural Session of the New Delhi Chapter was initiated with a Welcome Address by Harsh V. Pant, Vice President - ORF and Studies at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. The objective, key findings, and impact of the project were subsequently presented by Nilanjan Ghosh, Vice President – ORF Kolkata and Development Studies and Project Director USSFIP Northeastern Dialogue. All sessions were conducted in Chatam House rules.
The first panel discussion on “India’s Northeast: From Frontier to Fulcrum of Growth” was moderated by Nilanjan Ghosh. The Panellists were: Rakhee Bhattacharjee, Professor, Special Centre for the Study of North East India, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Rupsikha Saikia Borah, Director, Assam Industrial Development Corporation Limited, Government of Assam, Assam; Tridib Bhattacharjee, Founder & Chief Advisor, Astramind Consulting, Maharashtra and Dina Chhangte, CEO, Kings Industry Bamboo, Mizoram. Panellists emphasised that over the last decade, Northeast India has emerged as a transformative growth pole, transitioning into a core South Asian hub through the advancement of seamless regional connectivity and deeply integrated infrastructure networks. This structural evolution is underscored by strategic hydrocarbon investments in Assam, which have solidified the region’s status as a vital energy corridor while simultaneously bolstering domestic energy security and economic expansion. Complementing these physical links, the expansion of the International Internet Gateway in Tripura has significantly enhanced the digital architecture of the Northeast, establishing a critical nexus for regional data exchange. Finally, the proliferation of incubation centres and AI-driven platforms is fostering a sophisticated innovation ecosystem, thereby catalysing digital entrepreneurship and driving technology-led economic integration across the region.
The second Panel Discussion titled, “Unlocking the Northeast through Connectivity and Corridors”, was moderated by Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, Senior Fellow, Neighbourhood Studies Initiative, ORF and Project In-Charge, USSFIP Northeastern Dialogue. The Panellists were: Jayant Singh, Chairman, Land Port Authority of India, New Delhi; Ishantor Shobapandit, Regional Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Assam; Syed Kazi, Director, Council for Social & Digital Development, Assam; and Nivaran Nongmaithem, Proprietor, Khuibo Tours and Travel, Manipur. The panellists highlighted that improving logistical access to Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla ports and Myanmar’s Sittwe port provides the Northeast states with vital conduits to global maritime routes, deepening their integration into Indo-Pacific trade networks. This connectivity is further bolstered by strategic land ports, such as Petrapole–Benapole, Dawki, and Agartala–Akhaura, which facilitate robust cross-border trade in agricultural and industrial goods with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The modernisation of Inland Waterway infrastructure and the expansion of Ro-Pax services are streamlining regional cargo transit. Aligning the Northeast’s high-value organic exports like tea, spices, and floriculture with the demands of Southeast and East Asian markets will help not only to develop the states but also position the region as a pivotal corridor within emerging Indo-Pacific supply chains. For example, Mizoram seeks to unlock its economic potential by revitalising its diverse agricultural portfolio, especially the bamboo sector.
The third Panel Discussion, “India’s Northeast in the Indo-Pacific: Strategy, Security, and Statecraft”, was moderated by Sohini Bose, Associate Fellow, Neighbourhood Studies Initiative, Strategic Studies Programme, ORF & Project Coordinator, USSFIP Northeastern Dialogue. The Panellists were: Joseph George, Trade Analyst, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, New Delhi; Vinod P. Kavle, Commissioner & Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Mizoram; Pahi Saikia, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Assam; Subhash Bhattacharjee, Advisor, Patanjali Foods Limited, Co-chairman of Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing, Indian Chamber of Commerce in North Eastern Region, Assam; Anirban Roy, Editor-in-Chief, Northeast News, Assam; Victoria N. Daulagupu, Project Manager & Lead (Policy and Strategic Programs), Onlybees Private Limited, Meghalaya and Mahesh Deka, Executive Editor, Northeast Now, Assam. They emphasise how Northeast India occupies a pivotal geographic position connecting South and Southeast Asia, making it a critical hub for regional integration and strategic cooperation. In the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape, the region has emerged as a focal point for converging foreign policies aimed at fostering mutual growth and addressing shared transnational challenges. The structural reinforcement of trade flows, energy cooperation, and digital connectivity will help catalyse the Northeast’s transition from a peripheral frontier into a vital economic gateway, integrated within the Indo-Pacific framework. Furthermore, the strategic promotion of cultivation and processing of indigenous agro-produce can leverage localised agricultural advantages to establish high-value, export-oriented supply chains that elevate the region’s prominence in global markets.
The New Delhi Chapter concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury, marking the successful culmination of the project’s transformative eighteen-month journey.
This event report has been written by Sohini Bose, Associate Fellow, Neighbourhood Studies Initiative, Strategic Studies Programme, ORF & Project Coordinator, USSFIP Northeastern Dialogue; and Sreerupa Basu, Consultant, ORF Kolkata.
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