• India’s Neighbourhood First Policy accords primacy to nations in India’s periphery, includes in its ambit the Bimstec—a grouping that includes almost all countries of South Asia and some in South-East Asia.
• It actively focuses on improving ties with India’s immediate neighbours. It is focused on cooperation based on needs and requirements of neighbouring countries. The policy is also driven by the principle of non-seeking reciprocity.
• India’s policy towards its immediate neighbourhood is based on efforts to build peace and cooperation in South Asia.
• Its neighbourhood first policy, accords primacy to nations in periphery with focus on encouraging trade, connectivity and people-to-people contact.
• India’s immediate neighbourhood directly impacts it geopolitically, geo-strategically and geo-economically because of its vicinity.
Thus, working with them is important for India to rise as a superpower. Emphasis must be on sustainable and inclusive development.
