North East India - Central News Hub

North East India Festival Thrives in Vietnam

The atmosphere was further enlivened by electrifying performances by renowned bands from North East India and Vietnam, including Bright Lights, Rapper Huynh Cong Hieu, The Kod Crew, Baba, Summersalt India, Saigon LH, and Bollywood DJ Cyco…reports Asian Lite News

The 3rd North East India Festival, a three-day extravaganza, commenced on October 27th in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and concluded with resounding success on Sunday evening.

The event served as a platform for eminent figures from India and Vietnam, including, union ministers, chief ministers, provincial leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, tour operators, to engage in constructive dialogues on education, trade, and cultural awareness.

Over the course of the festival, the first and second days witnessed an array of discussions and partnerships in education exchange, trade and business initiatives, flight connectivity, and tourism collaborations. Stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from educational institutions came together to explore opportunities for growth and collaboration, creating a positive atmosphere for progress and development.

The grand finale on 29th October was a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity. The event showcased a kaleidoscope of North Eastern dance forms, including Bagrumba (Boro), Bhortaal (Assam), Drum Ensemble and Flute (Meghalaya), Tiwa Dance (Assam), Mwsaglangnai (Boro), Bihu Dance (Assam), Mishing (Assam), Daosri Delai (Boro), Drum Beating (Meghalaya), and Jarapagla (Boro). Additionally, mesmerising folk performances by Vietnamese artists added a unique flavor to the event.

A spectacular fashion show featuring top-notch designers of North East India dazzled the audience, showcasing exquisite designs and rich fabrics from the region. Celebrity showstoppers and glamorous models from Vietnam graced the runway, presenting creations by Bidyut and Rakesh, Daisy G Momin under the label “Daisy’s”, Manjushree Saikia under the label “Ura Maku”, and Babbi Kevichusa under the label “Bambi”.

Shyamkanu Mahanta, Chief Organiser of the North East India Festival, said, “We are immensely grateful for the overwhelming response from the local community and the staunch support from Vietnam’s stakeholders, local communities, and our representatives from India. The North East India Festival is in perfect alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East policy. We engaged in fruitful discussions on education exchange programmes between India and Vietnam, as well as collaborative efforts in tourism. Talks are underway with stakeholders to establish direct flight routes between Vietnam and North East India. The outcomes have exceeded our expectations. The North East Festival is not merely a cultural show; it is a platform for forging stronger ties in economy, education, and cross-cultural connections. We look forward to an even grander event next year.”

Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, also shared his insights, stating, “The 3rd North East India Festival has been an exceptional platform for distinguished figures from both India and Vietnam to engage in enriching dialogues. This event has not only strengthened the existing bonds between our nations but has also laid the foundation for even deeper collaboration in the future.”

The festival also featured the Incredible India Exhibition, showcasing the diverse destinations of India. Attendees had the opportunity to explore a dedicated textile zone, state-specific exhibition zones representing various northeastern states, and themes related to the Act East Policy, tea, industry, and tourism. Culinary enthusiasts relished the authentic delicacies of the North Eastern states.

Buoyed by this year’s magnificent success, the organisers eagerly look forward to an even bigger and more vibrant event next year, further cementing stronger bonds between the two countries.

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Growing India-Japan ties to benefit Northeast and Bay of Bengal

Japanese Prime Minister said North East India, which is surrounded by land, still has unexploited economic potential, reports Ateet Sharma

Political and economic stability in countries across the Indian Ocean region is becoming increasingly important for India and Japan as they work closely together to realise a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP).

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi delivered the message loud and clear as they addressed the India-Japan Forum in New Delhi on Friday.

In the Indian capital for a little over 24 hours, Hayashi held in-depth discussions with Jaishankar during the India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours late Thursday evening.

Early Friday, both ministers were at the 2nd India-Japan Forum 2023, not only discussing the progress made in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership but also their ongoing partnership towards the future of the Indo-Pacific.

Jaishankar pointed out that the increasing New Delhi-Tokyo convergences happened as Japan was desirous of stepping out of its comfort zone and India ready to Look and Act East.

“I think that’s where the big intersection in a way has happened. And bear in mind that each in their own way were also globalising and today when Minister Hayashi speaks about Bangladesh or yesterday we had a discussion about Sri Lanka and that is where he’s going from here, we find today ability and interest and inclination to work with Japan in a number of third countries,” mentioned the EAM.

Calling India an “indispensable partner”, it was in New Delhi a few months ago that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida outlined his new Indo-Pacific strategy that includes integrated development of Northeast India and Bangladesh as part of a broader Bay of Bengal community.

Kishida had listed three important regions – Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands – where multi-layered connectivity could overcome vulnerabilities and boost economic growth.

“North East India, which is surrounded by land, still has unexploited economic potential. Viewing Bangladesh and other areas to the south as a single economic zone, we will promote the Bay of Bengal-Northeast India industrial value chain concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire region,” the Japanese PM said while delivering a policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on March 20.

Citing the critical situation in Sri Lanka, Kishida had also made it clear that Japan will closely collaborate with India in the South Asian region.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on April 27 (Image courtesy: PM’s Office of Japan)

A few weeks later, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flew to Tokyo where Kishida expressed his desire to create synergies by organically linking cooperation under the ‘Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt’ (BIG-B) initiative with the development of the North Eastern Region of India. He also laid out the plan for the ‘Industrial Value Chain’ concept, which aims to improve the connectivity of the entire Bay of Bengal region.

In May, Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Kishida held a summit meeting in Tokyo where the two leaders welcomed the holding of the Creditors Committee meeting on restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt under the three co-chairs – India, France and Japan.

On Friday, the Japanese Foreign Minister admitted that, as the world faces difficult challenges at a turning point in history, close coordination with India will be key to bringing peace and stability to the Indo-Pacific at large.

“In that vein, Japan intends to drive forward our cooperation in all areas to expand our Special Strategic and Global Partnership with India,” he said.

Foreign Ministers of India and Japan at the India-Japan Forum in New Delhi.

As you read this, Hayashi would have already landed in Colombo – his second stop on the tour of Southwest Asia and Africa and the first visit of a Japanese Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka since 2019.

It will be followed by a visit to the Maldives over the weekend and South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia next week as Japan and India – the respective chairs of G7 and G20, currently – continue to strengthen engagement with the Global South.

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