Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that India’s northeastern region is undergoing a monumental transformation, pivoting from its erstwhile troubled narrative to emerge as a vibrant hub of development and investment. Speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘Rising North East Investors Summit’ in Guwahati, the Prime Minister asserted, “The Northeast is witnessing unprecedented progress. We are determined to accelerate its growth story.” The high-profile summit has drawn a galaxy of prominent figures from across the nation, including industry titans Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Anil Agarwal, all keen to explore the region’s burgeoning potential.
The Prime Minister underscored that the region’s rich tapestry of cultural and ethnic diversity is not a challenge, but its paramount strength. In a significant reframing of the acronym, he offered a novel interpretation for the word “EAST” — Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform — illuminating the government’s overarching vision for equitable and inclusive development across the seven sister states and Sikkim. “There was a time when Northeast was only called frontier, now it is frontrunner of growth,” Modi stated with conviction, encapsulating the profound shift in perception and reality.
A striking highlight of the Prime Minister’s address was the notable decline in regional insurgency. He revealed that over 10,000 youths in the Northeast have renounced violence over the past decade, a testament to the efficacy of sustained peace efforts. He further reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and Naxalism, signalling continued commitment to ensuring a secure and stable environment for growth.
The two-day summit, meticulously planned and executed over several months, is designed to showcase the Northeast as a land brimming with opportunities, aimed at attracting both domestic and foreign capital. The preparatory groundwork included extensive roadshows, strategic diplomatic engagements, and granular state-level discussions, all organised in close collaboration with both central and state governments. The event’s agenda is packed with targeted policy exhibitions and showcases for burgeoning startups, all curated to pique investor interest.
Key investment sectors identified for aggressive promotion at the summit encompass tourism and hospitality, agro-food processing, textiles and handicrafts, healthcare, education, IT services, robust infrastructure, streamlined logistics, sustainable energy, and the ever-expanding domains of entertainment and sports. The collective endeavour aims to unleash the full economic potential of the Northeast, transforming it into a powerhouse of progress and prosperity for the nation.
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