A different sort of extended neighbourhood is encountered eastwards, where general trade is more evident alongside energy and military nuances, wrapped up evocation of historical and cultural links. India's look East Policy was formally announced in the carly 1990s. Initially it was economics driven, emphasizing Southeast Asia and its regional organisation ASEAN. This is what Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had in mind in 2004: "I also naturally look at India's extended neighbourhood in South-East Asia. This is a region where truly historic socio-economic transformations are taking place. India became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1992, a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1995, and full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1996. Annual summit meetings between India and ASEAN commenced in 2002.

Which leader changed the Look East policy to the Act East Policy?
1. Atal Behari Vajpayee
2. Narender Modi
3. I.K. Gujral
4. Lal Bahadur Shastri

2

India’s ‘Look East’ Policy since 1991 has led to greater economic interaction with the East Asian nations (ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea)
The transition from the "Look East Policy" to the "Act East Policy" was officially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Myanmar in November 2014. This shift signified a more proactive and action-oriented approach in India's engagement with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. While the Look East Policy focused on building economic and strategic ties, the Act East Policy aimed to take more concrete actions to deepen cooperation and partnerships with the countries in the region.