SHILLONG, Nov 26: The United States Consulate General in Kolkata and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) organised the ‘Meghalaya Chapter of the United States Indo-Pacific Strategy: North-Eastern Dialogues (USIPS NED)’ on Tuesday.
Part of an 18-month initiative, this dialogue series aims to raise awareness about the US Indo-Pacific Strategy and its relevance to India’s Northeast, particularly in areas such as trade, connectivity and climate change.
The event brought together 37 stakeholders from various sectors, including government, business, civil society, academia, media and students.
While 27 participants attended the session in person, 10 joined digitally.
Prominent attendees included Forests and Environment Department Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar; former Indian Ambassador Reiwad Wajiri and ORF Director Nilanjan Ghosh.
The one-day dialogue focused on improving physical and digital connectivity in the region, with an emphasis on surface infrastructure that links the Northeast to the Indo-Pacific via the Bay of Bengal. The discussions also highlighted the importance of sustainable infrastructure and climate-resilient development to address the region’s vulnerability to climate change.
During the event, Ghosh emphasised the dialogue’s role in aligning economic development with environmental sustainability. “The USIPS NED Meghalaya Chapter seeks to bring innovative solutions in trade, connectivity, infrastructure, and climate resilience while meeting the aspirations of the Northeast. The dialogue also aims to explore how the US Indo-Pacific Strategy can contribute to these efforts through collaborative, tailored approaches,” he said.
Kumar, on the other hand, underlined the importance of such dialogues for Meghalaya’s growth. “This initiative creates a foundation for development projects in the Northeast while fostering collaboration. With 49% of Meghalaya’s population below the age of 18, it is vital to engage the youth and help Shillong reclaim its status as an intellectual capital,” he remarked.
It may be mentioned that the dialogue included surveys conducted before and after the event to assess participants’ awareness of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy and their views on India-US collaboration in trade, connectivity and climate change.
The results aim to gauge changes in perceptions and identify actionable insights.
