The transformation of India’s external economic engagement through the Act East Policy has positioned the North Eastern Region, particularly Assam, as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia. While infrastructure development, trade corridors, and connectivity have received significant policy attention, the role of rural financial systems in enabling inclusive participation in this transformation remains underexplored. This paper examines the critical linkage between financial inclusion and the effective realization of the Act East Policy in Assam. Using a conceptual and descriptive analytical framework based on secondary data, the study argues that inadequate access to institutional credit constrains rural households, small producers, and micro-enterprises from leveraging emerging economic opportunities. The paper highlights the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), microfinance institutions, and formal banking systems in bridging this gap. Empirical evidence from Assam shows persistent gaps in banking infrastructure, low credit flow, and weak credit–deposit ratios, particularly in rural areas. The study concludes that financial inclusion is a necessary precondition for translating regional integration policies into inclusive rural development and recommends a credit-integrated policy approach.