MoS Pabitra Margherita meets Indian diaspora in Laos, advances Act East Policy
Synopsis
MoS Pabitra Margherita's Vientiane visit went well beyond protocol — diaspora meetings, ITEC-ICCR alumni sessions, trade talks with tourism and textile sectors, and an Indian-grant-funded Ramayana performance all on a single day. It is a textbook deployment of India's Act East Policy soft power, using culture and capacity-building as diplomatic currency in a country that chaired ASEAN in 2024.
Key Takeaways
MoS Pabitra Margherita visited Vientiane, Laos on 29 August for a multi-sector diplomatic engagement.
He met the Indian diaspora and described the community as an 'invaluable living bridge' between India and Lao PDR.
Separate sessions were held with ITEC and ICCR alumni , framing them as 'the strongest pillars of bilateral friendship.' Stakeholder talks with tourism and textile sector representatives explored B2B trade and sustainable tourism avenues.
Margherita inaugurated a performance of 'Phra Lak Phra Lam' — the Lao Ramayana — at the National Theatre , supported by Indian grant assistance.
The visit was explicitly positioned as advancing India's Act East Policy .
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Saturday, 29 August engaged with the Indian diaspora in Vientiane, Laos, acknowledging their role as a 'living bridge' in deepening bilateral ties between India and Lao PDR. The visit marked a multi-pronged diplomatic outreach covering culture, commerce, and capacity-building partnerships.
Diaspora and Alumni Engagement
Margherita met members of the Indian community settled in Laos, describing the interaction as 'wonderful' and noting their 'immense contribution to strengthening the close, friendly ties between our two nations.' He posted on X: 'Our community continues to serve as an invaluable living bridge.'
He also held a separate session with alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Vientiane. In his post on X, Margherita called it 'truly inspiring to see how India's capacity-building partnerships continue to contribute to the developmental journey of Lao PDR,' adding that the alumni 'remain the strongest pillars of our bilateral friendship.' He explicitly framed the outreach as 'actively advancing India's Act East Policy.'
Trade and Tourism Talks
Earlier on the same day, the Minister held discussions with prominent stakeholders from the tourism and textile sectors of Laos. According to his post on X, the meeting 'explored avenues to enhance bilateral trade, promote sustainable tourism, and revive traditional textile links.' Margherita noted that the 'shared and rich civilizational heritage offers immense potential to boost economic synergy, create livelihoods, and deepen business-to-business (B2B) connect.'
This comes amid India's broader strategic push to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties with Southeast Asian nations under its Act East Policy, a framework that has gained renewed momentum since 2014.
Cultural Diplomacy: Ramayana on Stage
In a symbolically significant moment, Margherita inaugurated a performance of 'Phra Lak Phra Lam' — the Lao adaptation of the Ramayana — at the National Theatre in Vientiane. The performance was supported through Indian grant assistance. He described it as a showcase of 'deep-rooted civilizational links and vibrant cultural exchange,' calling the event a reflection of 'shared heritage coming alive on stage.'
Notably, the Ramayana's cultural resonance across Southeast Asia has long served as a soft-power anchor for Indian diplomacy in the region, and this performance reinforces that tradition in Laos specifically.
Broader Significance
The visit to Laos underscores India's intent to deepen its diplomatic footprint in ASEAN nations beyond the traditional economic powerhouses. Laos, which held the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024, remains a strategically relevant partner for India's regional connectivity and cultural diplomacy goals. The multi-sector engagement — spanning diaspora relations, alumni networks, trade, and cultural performance — reflects a comprehensive bilateral approach rather than a single-issue visit.
Further outcomes from the Minister's Vientiane engagements, including any formal agreements or follow-up mechanisms from the tourism and textile stakeholder meetings, are awaited.
Point of View
Alumni networks, diaspora engagement — on top of trade conversations rather than leading with commerce alone. The choice to inaugurate a Ramayana performance funded by Indian grants is not incidental; it is a deliberate civilizational signal in a country where the Lao Ramayana is a living cultural tradition. What is less clear is whether the tourism and textile stakeholder talks will translate into concrete trade facilitation, or remain goodwill exchanges. India's bilateral trade with Laos is modest, and the gap between diplomatic warmth and economic depth in this relationship has persisted for years. The real test of this outreach is whether follow-up mechanisms are established.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did MoS Pabitra Margherita visit Laos?
MoS Pabitra Margherita visited Vientiane, Laos on 29 August to engage with the Indian diaspora, ITEC and ICCR alumni, trade stakeholders from the tourism and textile sectors, and to inaugurate a cultural performance. The visit was framed as advancing India's Act East Policy and deepening bilateral ties with Lao PDR.
What is the 'Phra Lak Phra Lam' performance inaugurated in Vientiane?
'Phra Lak Phra Lam' is the Lao adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana, performed at the National Theatre in Vientiane. The performance was supported through Indian grant assistance and was used to highlight civilizational links between India and Laos.
What is India's Act East Policy and how does this visit relate to it?
India's Act East Policy is a diplomatic framework aimed at strengthening economic, strategic, and cultural ties with Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific nations. Margherita explicitly stated that his engagements in Laos — covering diaspora, alumni, trade, and culture — were 'actively advancing' this policy.
Who are the ITEC and ICCR alumni Margherita met in Vientiane?
ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) and ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) alumni are Lao nationals who received training or scholarships under Indian government programmes. Margherita described them as 'the strongest pillars of bilateral friendship' and highlighted their role in India-Laos people-to-people ties.
What trade areas did India and Laos discuss during the visit?
Margherita held discussions with stakeholders from the tourism and textile sectors of Laos, exploring avenues to enhance bilateral trade, promote sustainable tourism, and revive traditional textile links. No formal agreements were announced; follow-up outcomes are awaited.
