Japan expands role in Northeast India’s development, says ORF report

Japan’s role in the development of India’s Northeast region (NER) continues to expand, driven by its Indo-Pacific vision and India’s Act East Policy. According to Pratnashree Basu, writing for the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in an article titled “Japan in India’s Northeast: Infrastructure, Innovation, Impact,” Japan has consistently played a “significant role in the development of India’s northeastern region (NER), primarily through economic development and infrastructure projects.”

Basu notes that in recent years, Japan’s involvement has seen “a considerable uptick in terms of both the avenues of engagement and their depth.” Over the past decade, Tokyo has emerged as a “crucial partner in modernising the region’s infrastructure, enhancing connectivity, and deepening people-to-people ties.”

At the recently concluded Advantage Assam 2.0—Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025, held between February 25–26 in Guwahati, Japan reaffirmed its commitment to the region’s development. Basu reports that Japanese Ambassador ONO Keiichi, speaking at the event, “highlighted infrastructure progress, academic ties, and people-to-people engagement.”
The summit, which saw the participation of 62 foreign missions, also included discussions on semiconductors, clean energy, and enhanced connectivity, aligning strongly with India’s Act East Policy and the broader Indo-Pacific framework.

Basu highlights that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) “has been and continues to be instrumental in financing and implementing various initiatives to improve connectivity and promote regional development.” As part of its extensive efforts, JICA has supported the construction of “over 750 kilometres of new roads” across the region. These projects are “geared towards the facilitation of a stable supply of goods and improving access to economic, healthcare and educational facilities for residents,” addressing what Basu calls “critical socioeconomic challenges.”

JICA’s investment has been spread across multiple states, including Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura. According to Basu, JICA has “provided significant funding for projects aimed at improving road networks, bridges, and urban infrastructure” in these states. One of the most prominent initiatives is the North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project, which seeks to enhance national highways and regional roads “to facilitate trade and mobility.” Basu notes that the project is “particularly important as it strengthens links between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia,” thus reinforcing the broader strategic goals of the India-Japan Act East Forum.

The scale and scope of Japan’s involvement go beyond physical infrastructure. Basu writes that Japan “has been actively involved in the region’s water supply and sanitation projects as well.” In Guwahati, for instance, JICA has funded and supported initiatives “to improve water supply infrastructure,” addressing “long-standing urban development challenges” in Assam’s capital.

In addition to infrastructure and urban development, environmental sustainability has emerged as another pillar of Japan’s engagement. According to Basu, Tokyo has supported “conservation and biodiversity projects, which are aimed at safeguarding the ecological sensitivity of these states.” One example is the Sustainable Forest Management Project in Tripura, which focuses on “preserving forests while enhancing livelihoods for local communities.”

The momentum continued in 2024, with Tokyo committing Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans amounting to “JPY 232.209 billion for nine projects across various sectors in India.” Basu lists key initiatives including the North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 3), the funding of the Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge, and Phase 7 of the project supporting NH 127B’s Phulbari-Goeragre section. All these projects are intended to “strengthen transportation links, boost trade, and improve regional integration,” reinforcing Japan’s consistent support to India’s Act East Policy.

Healthcare is another major area of support. According to Basu, a “JPY 10 billion project will establish a Medical College Hospital at the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Kohima,” which is expected to significantly advance healthcare infrastructure in the state and benefit neighboring regions.

Moreover, the article notes that Japan’s financial and strategic engagement is also reflected in the energy sector. Basu writes that “the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) signed its largest-ever green financing deal with India’s Power Finance Corporation,” signaling Tokyo’s growing interest in promoting clean and sustainable development in the region.

MT