Significance of Act East Policy on India’s trade with South East Asia

Drawing upon secondary data, the paper highlights key projects such as the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and various trade agreements like the India–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. Despite these initiatives, trade trends reveal a stagnant export pattern and a steep rise in imports, indicating a limited immediate impact of the policy. The paper concludes that while the AEP holds considerable potential for transforming India’s regional trade landscape, tangible results depend on timely execution of projects, diversification of exports, and enhanced regional integration.