When the famous American author, Mark Twain, visited Calcutta in 1896, he wrote in his diary, "there was plenty to see in Calcutta, but there was not plenty of time for it." I know the feeling. I've been to Calcutta many times during my tenure as the ambassador of the United States of America to India, and the City of Joy never ceases to amaze. Calcutta's history and dynamism - and strategic location at the crossroads between South and Southeast Asia - make it a natural hub for regional connectivity, which is why the US chose the city to host a conference on Indo-Pacific connectivity in December. The conference, which drew close to 300 participants from across the region, was an opportunity to discuss US priorities in the region, as well as to hear perspectives from regional stakeholders on enhancing regional connectivity.
From Silk Routes to Grand Trunk Roads, South Asia was for millennia a region bound together by the exchange of goods, people, and ideas. There's no reason why it can't be once more. Greater connectivity has the potential to transform South Asia and, in the process, improve the lives of millions of ordinary citizens. Nowhere are the challenges and potential for connectivity more evident than in Northeast India, a region that borders Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Nepal. I had the privilege of visiting the states of Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Assam in December, and came away heartened and inspired about the region's potential, in spite of some very real challenges. With the right investments in energy, education, and connectivity, the region's young and dynamic population can take better advantage of the opportunities that come with greater integration.
Working hand-in-hand with local partners, the US is committed to making greater connectivity a reality in South Asia. Through the South Asia Regional Initiative, we are funding projects aimed at bolstering cross-border electricity trade and the development of a regional energy market. This included sponsoring the initial feasibility study for the 500 megawatt energy link between India and Bangladesh, which is now operational and being expanded to 1,000 MW. I am a strong advocate for developing digital infrastructure, which is more vital than ever as we progress into the rapidly evolving 21st century digital economy. Communities with greater connectivity will have greater access to information, more opportunities for trade and education, and be better able to shape their future. American companies are helping bring Indians online, including through the Digital India initiative. Google, for example, has partnered with the Indian Railways and RailTel to provide Wi-Fi at over 100 railway stations in India, and plans are under way to connect another 400 by the end of 2017.
While roads, bridges and fiber-optic networks are important, physical infrastructure alone cannot sustain connectivity. What's also needed is a common vision based on shared values and norms, and an open network of exchange that fosters innovative ideas and solutions. This does not mean we need to have the same political systems, but we must recognize that universal values matter. Protecting vulnerable populations, standing up to terror and insurgency, resolving disputes under the rule of law, combatting child labour and human trafficking, ensuring women have an equal place in society, ending the scourge of drugs and corruption - a region that shares these values is one that will naturally be drawn together, and can, in turn, develop the solutions and operating systems necessary to overcome common challenges. Whether it is streamlining customs procedures at border crossings, enacting robust labour and environmental regulations, or deepening cooperation on security and counterterrorism, when countries have a common framework for connectivity, they can come together to develop durable solutions. Implementation will be a challenge, but strong regional organizations and bilateral partnerships can help nurture a network where shared values and common operating platforms can become the norm, not the exception. To put it another way, having the right software for connectivity is just as important as the hardware of connectivity.
South Asia today enjoys the unenviable reputation of being the world's least integrated region. We're long overdue for that to change. The dynamism of East Asia and South Asia - the centres of the 21st century global economy - lends itself to greater connectivity and integration. The time is now for India and the countries of South Asia to demonstrate leadership and build a new vision for Indo-Pacific connectivity, one rooted in shared values and ideas. To borrow a line from Tagore, "You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."
The author is the US ambassador to India
