Asian Confluence hosts South Korean G20 delegates for brainstorm on collaboration

SHILLONG, April 18: South Korean Ambassador, Chang Jae-bok and his team are part of the G20 delegation visiting Meghalaya. On Tuesday, Asian Confluence — the Northeast think-tank — hosted the South Korean envoy and his team comprising Dr. Choongjae Cho, Deputy President of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and Vice President for the Korean Association of Indian Social Science Research (KAISSR) for a round table on the theme: “Northeast India: Republic of Korea -India Special Strategic Partnership and the Way Forward”.
Present at the meeting were NEHU Vice-Chancellor representative Dr. Prasenjit Biswas, NEIGRIHMS Director Dr. Nalin Mehta, NIFT Director Dr. Shankar Kumar Jha, NEHHDC representative Sriparna B. Baruah, Assam Chief Information Commissioner Samudragupta Kashyap, ICCR Director Munich Singh and former diplomats River Wahlang & Rudi Warjri and Dr Kriezo Yhome from the Nagaland University, amongst others.
Chairing the meeting was former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das. Also present was former Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin.
The purpose for the meeting was to explore ways and means for cooperation between South Korea and the Northeastern states. The launch of Korea’s first Indo-Pacific vision document – Strategy for a Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific in December 2022 has raised expectations for enhanced momentum in Korea’s strategic ties with India.
Also 2023 is a landmark year when Korea and India celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties.
Speaking at the round table, the South Korean Ambassador said India-Korea relationship will rapidly grow and is a natural partner of Korea because the two countries share many facets of democracy. Mentioning the Act East Policy promoted by the Modi government, Jae-bok said the Look East Policy (LEP) started by PV Narasimha Rao in 1994 further revised and renamed and now the Act East Policy (AEP) is not just rhetoric but the Modi government has also chalked out detailed action plans as it is keen to ensure that North East India becomes the bridge between India and South East Asia.
Jae-bok also pointed out that it is important to identify the areas of cooperation between South Korea and NE India and how to go about this. He stated that it is important to institutionalise such discussions.
Allocation of Rs 1,500 crore for promoting the AEP in 2022-2023 shows the Modi government’s seriousness to develop the region as a strategic zone and a bridge between South East Asia and the NE region. South Korea is interested to extend its engagement to the NE region where the soft power of Korea resonates the most with K-pop being at the top. North East India will soon become a favourite investment destination from South East Asia, particularly South Korea.
Ambassador Jae-bok said the very fact that the South Koreans danced the Oscar award winning Natu Natu and it went viral shows how close India and South Korea have become.
“India and South Korea are natural partners for ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region and also for strategic economic and cultural ties with NE India and this relationship is set to expand within the next 50 years,” Jae-bok said.
The Korean Ambassador also said that he has learnt from FICCI that the region is rich in resources such as oil and gas and cultural resources as well.
“Korea has already invested in automobiles and electronics and will now explore investment in electronics Information and Communication Technology, green energy, food processing, organic agriculture, eco- tourism etc. He also mentioned that Manipur University is already offering Diploma Courses in Korean Language. NEHU is next in line as this oldest central university already has a vibrant tie-up with South Korea.
Earlier Riva Ganguly Das laid out the premises on which Indo-Korean bilateral relations stand. She also stated that South Korea is an indispensable part of the Act east Policy.
Dr. Choongjae Cho said that his first impression on arriving at Shillong is one of familiarity. Speaking of his organisation, he said it is engaged in trade and investments and India is one of 27 priority countries. “South Korea has capabilities to address regional imbalances in urban development, transportation, infrastructure, water resources management, access to health and hygiene, environment and climate change adaptation, green energy and ICT and these are areas of potential cooperation with North East India,” he said.
Dr. Choongjae also said he saw the limestone being mined and wondered about sustainable mining strategies. He also spoke about making eco-tourism a sustainable venture.
Dr. Nalin Mehta, Director of NEIGRIHMS, spoke about collaboration in the area of knowledge sharing through exchange programmes.
Dr. Sriparna Baruah spoke of the need to empower grassroots organisations especially the micro and medium enterprises run by women entrepreneurs and wondered if there is a market in South Korean for the Eri silk products which is a women-centric product. She also spoke of strengthening and scaling up incubation centres.
Rudi Warjri wanted the South Koreans to share with Northeast India their strategies on becoming an industrialised first nation and if they could set up something like a Samsung or Hyundai industry in the region.
River Wahlang also desired that the South Koreans impart some of their strategies for nation building and how they position themselves geo-strategically.
NIFT Director Dr. Shankar Jha said that India is known for its traditional knowledge whereas South Korea is known for its innovative thinking. Hence the key is to bridge the gap between the two.
Shakuntala Gamlin, who is also on the governing board of Asian Confluence, summed up the discussions and stressed on the need for water harvesting in order to cope with the water crisis that is a key outcome of climate change. She also spoke on the urgency of natural resource regeneration and technology transfer.
Sabyasachi Dutta, Director Asian Confluence earlier welcomed the panelists and stressed on the importance of people to people exchange between South Korea and North East India.
Other speakers included Munish Singh of ICCR and Dr Kriezo Yhome.