New Delhi, Aug. 13 -- Minister of State for External Affairs (MEA) Pabitra Margherita on Thursday said Assam is central to India's Act East Policy and serves as the country's "strategic gateway to Southeast Asia", highlighting government initiatives to develop the State as a trade and connectivity gateway to the region.

Responding to an unstarred question by BJP MP Jogen Mohan in the Rajya Sabha, Margherita said India's North Eastern Region, including Assam, provides the "shortest overland connectivity to ASEAN" and is critical for promoting trade, transport, tourism, energy cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

He said the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment & Infrastructure Summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Guwa...