While unveiling "free and open indo Pacific" new policy" Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida said "the Northeast India, surrounded by land, still has unexploited economic potential.

Viewing Bangladesh and other areas to the south as a single economic zone, Japan will build Bengal-Northeast India industrial value chain concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire region.

Japan and India have already formed an Act East forum to take up projects in Bangladesh and other countries. Visiting Japan PM has elaborated on the policy while giving lecture in Indian Council of World Affairs at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. Before giving lecture Japan PM had a bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi.

He said that Japan is working with India to bring stability in South Asia region. He also said Japan has already formed an economic study group with Bangladesh to forge an economic partnership as Bangladesh is graduating from least developed country to developing nation.

Japan PM said "The waters that connect Japan and the Pacific Island countries have no borders. The Pacific Islands region is exposed to many challenges such as rising sea levels due to climate change, infectious diseases such as COVID-19, and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions."

Giving an idea of cooperation PM Japan said," In a post-Covid-19 world, digital connectivity is also increasingly vital. We will promote reliable digital technology including Open RAN, and develop information infrastructure including submarine cable laying projects. We will also cooperate in the materialization of smart cities utilizing digital technology. We believe that there is a great potential to utilize Japanese technology and India's strength in the IT field, as well as to provide support for infrastructure development through Japanese ODA. "