National: India’s northeastern states are experiencing an unprecedented economic surge, outpacing the national growth rate by a substantial margin, according to Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The region, comprising eight states, is now seen as a pivotal economic hub, poised to serve as a strategic launch pad for the Global South and a crucial link in South-East Asia’s trade network.
Speaking ahead of the Rising Northeast Investment Summit 2025, Scindia highlighted the historical and contemporary significance of the region, noting its pivotal role in ancient trade routes to Europe.
“It is through the North-East that goods and services used to travel all the way up to Europe,” Scindia stated, emphasizing the region’s historical importance.
He further asserted that under the current administration, the perception of the Northeast has shifted dramatically. “I believe that the North-East has… under Prime Minister’s leadership, the concept of what used to be the last state has become today the first state.”
In a move to drive investment, Scindia recently engaged with prominent industry leaders in Mumbai, including Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, Kumar Mangalam Birla of Aditya Birla Group, and N Chandrasekaran of Tata Sons. Discussions centered on potential investments in key sectors such as agro-based industries, textiles, and tourism, aiming to leverage the region’s rich resources and growing economic momentum.
The Union Minister underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and connectivity, which are crucial for sustaining the region’s growth. “Ten per cent of Gross Budget Support (GBS), which is close to one lakh crore, [is] going into the North-East every single year,” Scindia revealed, pointing to significant investments in railways, highways, airports, and waterways. These efforts are transforming the Northeast into a powerful economic engine, he added.
Scindia emphasized the region’s potential to catalyze broader regional development, citing its abundant natural and human resources, combined with its robust economic growth. “I believe that today, as they grow, and their growth rates are in excess of 300 basis points of the national average… they present a tremendous opportunity for a launch pad for all of the Global South,” he stated.
The government’s overarching strategy involves integrating all eight northeastern states into a cohesive development framework, a transformation Scindia deemed “paramount” for India’s future. “We need to be able to actualise and make sure that we give them that launch pad… to be able to contribute to the nation’s progress,” he concluded, highlighting the region’s crucial role in India’s overall economic advancement.
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