Northeast: From Frontier to Front-Runner, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today as he inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, laying out a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the Northeast into a global investment destination and a strategic pillar of India’s development story.
With sectors like energy, semiconductors, tourism, agro-processing, and organic agriculture taking center stage, the Prime Minister declared that the region is no longer the periphery but a powerful growth frontier.
Northeast: From Frontier to Front-Runner
In his address, Modi emphasized the Northeast’s transformation over the past 11 years, stating that the region now embodies the spirit of Ashtalakshmi—prosperity, diversity, and opportunity. “The Northeast is emerging as a key destination for two strategic sectors—energy and semiconductors,” he declared. This evolution, he said, is powered by the government’s focus on robust infrastructure, connectivity, peace, and grassroots economic development.
Energy and Semiconductor Powerhouse
The Prime Minister announced that thousands of crores have already been invested in hydropower and solar energy projects across the Northeast. These investments, he said, go beyond power generation and extend to building a manufacturing base for solar modules, energy storage systems, and research facilities.
He highlighted Assam’s growing importance in India’s semiconductor ecosystem and shared a major milestone: the upcoming release of the first Made in India semiconductor chip from a Northeast-based plant. “This marks a breakthrough not just for the region but for India’s technological sovereignty,” he said.
Addressing the North East Rising Summit in Delhi. The region is witnessing unprecedented progress. We are determined to accelerate its growth story. https://t.co/Az6CDuMIEp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2025
Infrastructure Revolution: The Backbone of Growth
Modi underscored that development in the Northeast is visible not just in numbers, but in lived reality—thanks to an infrastructure revolution that includes:
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11,000 kilometers of new highways
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Doubling the number of airports
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Major rail and road connectivity projects like the Sela Tunnel and Bhupen Hazarika Bridge
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The Northeast Gas Grid (1,600 km) for industrial energy supply
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Waterway development on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers
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Extensive mobile and internet coverage, including 13,000 km of optical fiber and 4G/5G networks
He also noted the strategic importance of international connectivity projects such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Project, which will provide direct trade routes to Southeast Asia through Mizoram and the Kolkata Port.
For us, EAST means – Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform. pic.twitter.com/tUNLt9WKPY
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 23, 2025
Organic Agriculture and Agro-Processing: Global Market Potential
A major thrust area outlined by Modi was organic agriculture. He emphasized the Northeast’s role in turning India into a global organic food brand. “I want to see Indian food brands on every dining table in the world, and the Northeast will play a central role in achieving that dream,” he said.
He noted that organic farming in the region has doubled in the past decade, with high-quality produce such as tea, pineapples, turmeric, ginger, and citrus fruits now commanding strong international demand. The government is boosting this with infrastructure for mega food parks, cold chains, and testing labs, along with the launch of the Oil Palm Mission to reduce edible oil imports.
Tourism, Culture, and the “Complete Package”
Calling the Northeast a “complete tourism package,” the Prime Minister celebrated its natural beauty, cultural richness, and emerging hospitality infrastructure. He remarked on the doubling of tourist numbers in recent years, with rural homestays, local guides, and adventure tourism creating new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
He encouraged investors to explore eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and destination events like conferences, weddings, and concerts. The development of multi-modal logistics hubs in Guwahati, Imphal, and Agartala, and new Land Custom Stations in Meghalaya and Mizoram are further unlocking Indo-Pacific trade and tourism potential.
Digital Gateway and Youth Innovation
Modi placed special emphasis on the region’s youth, describing them as digital innovators, not just consumers. He highlighted:
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Expansion of high-speed internet
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Rise of regional startups
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Massive investments in education and skill development, including ₹21,000 crore over the past decade
Major developments include:
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Over 800 new schools
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India’s first AIIMS in the region
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9 medical colleges
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2 IIITs
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IIMC campus in Mizoram
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Nearly 200 new skill development institutes
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India’s first sports university in the Northeast
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Over 250 Khelo India Centers and 8 Centers of Excellence
These initiatives, he said, are positioning the Northeast as a talent pool for every major sector—from sports to software.
Peace as a Precondition for Progress
Modi also drew attention to the dramatic improvement in peace and law and order across the region. “Our government has zero tolerance toward terrorism and insurgency,” he said, noting that more than 10,000 youth have chosen to abandon violence in the past 10 years.
He attributed this peace dividend to the success of the MUDRA scheme and youth-centric development programs, which are enabling entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance.
A Call to Action for a Viksit Bharat
Concluding his speech, Modi called the Rising Northeast more than an investor summit—it is “a movement and a call to action.” He urged the business community and state governments to work together to turn the vision of Ashtalakshmi into the engine of a Viksit Bharat.
“I am confident that by the next Rising Northeast summit, India will have leapt forward, with the Northeast at the heart of our story,” he said.
Summit Highlights
The two-day summit from May 23–24 features ministerial and business sessions, startup showcases, and sectoral exhibitions. It aims to promote investment in:
Tourism and Hospitality
Agro-Food Processing
Textiles and Handicrafts
Education and Skill Development
IT/ITES
Infrastructure and Logistics
Energy
Entertainment and Sports
Healthcare
The event was attended by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and Chief Ministers from all eight Northeastern states—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura—as well as other central ministers and dignitaries.
|Also Read : PM Modi will open Rising North East Investors Summit on Friday |
|Also Read :For us, EAST means – Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform: PM |
