PM Modi opens Rising North East Summit, calls region a ‘Land of Opportunities’
New Delhi, May 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Thursday, hailing Northeast India as a vital driver in the nation’s growth story and a “land of opportunities.”
Addressing a distinguished gathering of investors, dignitaries, and the chief ministers of all eight Northeastern states, PM Modi praised the region’s vast potential across sectors such as tourism, bio-economy, energy, and digital innovation. Referring to the recent Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav held at the same venue, he said the summit was not just an economic platform but “a celebration of the Northeast’s emergence as a growth engine.”
“For us, EAST is not just a direction—it is a vision: Empower, Act, Strengthen, and Transform,” he declared, reiterating the government’s focus on Northeast India as a central pillar of its ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) mission.
The Prime Minister highlighted the visible transformation in the region over the last 11 years, citing over 700 ministerial visits and record investments in infrastructure. Key projects such as the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, Bhupen Hazarika Bridge in Assam, and the Northeast Gas Grid were spotlighted as enablers of connectivity and commerce.
International linkages like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Project were also mentioned as strategic steps toward integrating the region with ASEAN markets. Modi emphasized the creation of multi-modal logistics hubs in Guwahati, Imphal, and Agartala, along with enhanced land customs infrastructure in Meghalaya and Mizoram.
Positioning the region as a potential hub for organic agriculture and wellness, the Prime Minister invited investors to explore opportunities in food processing, cold storage, and palm oil cultivation. He said the Northeast’s biodiversity made it an ideal location for the ‘Heal in India’ initiative.
On education and skills, PM Modi pointed to Rs 21,000 crore in investments over the past decade, including AIIMS Guwahati, nine medical colleges, new IIITs, nearly 200 skill centers, and India’s first Sports University. With 13,000 km of optical fiber laid and rising 4G/5G coverage, the youth of the region are “emerging as digital innovators,” he noted.
The Prime Minister also underlined peace and stability as key to development, noting that over 10,000 youth had given up violence in the past decade, helping unlock a surge in tourism, entrepreneurship, and eco-friendly initiatives like homestays and cultural tourism.
