The North East is the most diverse region of our diverse nation,” stated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at New Delhi last month. He expressed pride, hope and immense confidence in the future of the North East region in his address.
The Prime Minister emphasized vast potential spanning trade, tradition, textiles, and tourism. “The region’s diversity is its greatest strength, North East is synonymous with a thriving bio-economy, bamboo industry, tea, petroleum, sports, skills as well as an emerging hub for eco-tourism. The region is paving the way for organic products and stands as a powerhouse of energy.”
Mr Modi said that the North East embodies the essence of Ashtalakshmi, bringing prosperity and opportunity, “With this strength every North Eastern State is declaring its readiness for investment and leadership. For us, EAST is not just a direction but a vision—Empower, Act, Strengthen, and Transform which defines the policy framework for the region,” he said.
The Prime Minister recalled that the North East was once regarded merely as a frontier region; it is now emerging as a front-runner in India’s growth story.
“Infrastructure is the foundation of development and that the Government has initiated an infrastructure revolution in the North East, the region is now emerging as a land of opportunities. Thousands of crores have been invested in enhancing connectivity such as the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and the Bhupen Hazarika Bridge in Assam,” the Prime Minister said.
On the ongoing development of Guwahati, Imphal, and Agartala as Multi-Modal Logistics Hubs, he noted that the establishment of Land Custom Stations in Meghalaya and Mizoram is expanding international trade opportunities, “These advancements are positioning the North East as a rising force in trade with Indo-Pacific nations, unlocking new avenues for investment and economic growth.”
The region is an ideal destination for global conferences, concerts, and destination weddings, positioning it as a complete tourism package, “As development reaches every corner of the North East, its positive impact on tourism is evident, with visitor numbers doubling. We need to elevate North East tourism even more.”
Reaffirming that peace and law and order are the most crucial factors for any region’s development, he stated, “Our Government has a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and insurgency. Over the past 10-11 years, more than 10,000 young individuals have abandoned arms to embrace peace. This shift has unlocked new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities within the region.”
He was of the opinion that the region is emerging as a key destination for two strategic sectors—energy and semiconductors. He said that the Central Government has made extensive investments in hydropower and solar power across all North Eastern States, with several thousand crore worth of projects already approved. Beyond investment opportunities in plants and infrastructure, he felt there is significant potential in manufacturing, including solar modules, cells, storage solutions, and research.
Mr Modi highlighted Assam’s role in strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem, “First Made in India chip from a North East-based semiconductor plant will soon be introduced.”
He said that Rising North East was more than just an investors’ summit, a movement and a call to action. “India’s future will reach new heights through the North East’s progress and prosperity,” he asserted.
State Industry Minister Bimal Bora addressing a technical session on the topic infrastructure and logistics said “Assam is targeting a ₹11 lakh cr Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by 2030. The State’s GSDP has more than doubled from ₹2.8 lakh cr in 2018 to ₹5.7 lakh cr in 2024.”
Borah positioned Assam as a rising economic hub with strategic geographic advantages: “Guwahati serves as the gateway to the North East and our proximity to ASEAN gives us a direct line to Southeast Asia’s booming markets.”
The summit concluded with the investment proposal of ₹4.3 lakh cr. Speaking at the valedictory programme, DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated, “We welcomed delegations from over 80 countries — from Japan to Europe to ASEAN nations, and there was one unanimous sentiment: India’s future lies in North East.”
The DoNER ministry has been holding discussions with different stakeholders, in the last one year with nine domestic roadshows across Indian cities, Ambassadors’ Meets with representatives from over 95 countries, 6 State roundtables, 6 sector-specific industry interactions and numerous consultations with PSUs, industry chambers, and corporates have been organised to encourage the investors to explore investment opportunities in the North Eastern region.
