Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (May 23, 2025) stated that India’s northeast is no longer a “frontier region” but has become the “frontrunner of growth,” while urging investors to explore the vast economic potential of the eight northeastern states.
Inaugurating the Rising Northeast Summit, the PM said, India has “new dreams” for the NE, adding that the region would emerge as a gateway for trade with southeast Asia over the next decade.
The Prime Minister said that the northeast would emerge as a gateway to trade with the ASEAN bloc over the coming decade. “Northeast will be a strong bridge of trade with Southeast Asia. We are working on the necessary infrastructure to realise that goal,” he said, announcing that India is working on projects to directly connect Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos to India. “These projects will give the northeast a new commercial identity among the Indo-Pacific countries,” he added.
“East does not mean just direction for us. It means, Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform. This is our government’s policy for eastern India,” Modi said.
The event comes against the backdrop of the May 17 order by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade to close land ports with Bangladesh. Officials have said that the decision will provide the northeast a level playing field to develop the commercial potential of its own supply chains, and an impetus to manufacture competitively.
Earlier this year, Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus described the northeast as “landlocked” and suggested Bangladesh as a “guardian of the ocean” to facilitate China’s access to the region. India strongly opposed this view, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calling the remarks “offensive and condemnable.”
Modi highlighted the region’s diverse opportunities in sectors such as bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports, and eco-tourism. “India is the most diverse nation globally, and our northeast is the most diverse part of this diversity,” he said. He described the northeast’s eight states as the ‘Ashta Lakshmis’—the eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi—reflecting the region’s abundant resources and promise.
The summit saw participation from numerous industry leaders, foreign delegates, and the Chief Ministers of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and Sikkim.
Reliance commits Rs 75,000 Cr to NE; Biogas, Telecom, Healthcare on agenda
Speaking at the same summit, Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced a massive Rs 75,000 crore investment in the Northeast over the next five years. This includes:
· Establishing 350 compressed biogas plants
· Setting up a 150-bed cancer hospital in Manipur
· Expanding Jio 5G services, which already cover 90% of the region’s population
· Developing AI-enabled infrastructure in schools, hospitals, and homes
· Setting up factories for FMCG products and boosting farm procurement
Ambani said these plans would create 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs, stating, “For Reliance, it is a matter of privilege to fulfil the dreams of a region that has the fastest rate of economic growth with the youngest population in India”.
Adani Group to invest Rs 50,000 Cr more in Northeast over next decade
Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, also committed an additional Rs 50,000 crore investment, on top of Rs 50,000 crore pledged in February for Assam.
His investment plan includes:
· Green energy (smart meters, hydro, solar)
· Roads, highways, and digital infrastructure
· Logistics, power transmission, and vocational skilling centres
“But more than infrastructure, we will invest in people. Every initiative will prioritise local jobs, local entrepreneurship, and community engagement. This is what Viksit Bharat 2047 is all about,” he said.
Adani praised PM Modi’s 65 visits to the region since 2014, which he said have doubled road networks and airport infrastructure in the Northeast. ”When you said, ‘Act East, Act Fast, Act First’, you gave the Northeast its wake-up call,” he told the Prime Minister.
Vedanta to pour Rs 80,000 Cr into Oil, Gas, Minerals, Power & Data Centres
Vedanta Group, India’s only and the world’s leading critical minerals, energy transition metals, power, oil & gas and technology conglomerate, said it will invest Rs 80,000 crore in the Northeast across sectors such as: Oil & gas exploration; Critical minerals and refining; Renewable energy and power transmission; and Optical fibre and data centres.
The conglomerate, which earlier pledged Rs 50,000 crore for Assam, said an additional Rs 30,000 crore will be invested in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said the move would create 1 lakh jobs and support long-term socio-economic development.
Social projects will include modern anganwadi centres (Nand Ghars), digital classrooms, handloom centres, and youth sports promotion.
“Today, the states of the North-East are growing in double digits. The opportunities are growing even faster. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, this region has become a key engine of growth for Viksit Bharat. The private sector is ready to be a partner for prosperity. Vedanta is fully committed to investment in the region which has the most amazing natural resources potential, from oil and gas to critical minerals and an exceptional pool of talented human resources”, said Agarwal.
Northeast India poised as strategic tech and investment hub with ₹1.5 lakh crore boost
Dr Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, spotlighted Northeast India as a strategic digital frontier during the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 in New Delhi.
Emphasizing the region’s transformation, he highlighted over Rs 1.5 lakh crore invested in digital and physical infrastructure since 2014, including Rs 50,000 crore for BharatNet and the Digital North East Vision. Today, more than 90% of the Northeast has 4G coverage, and 80% of rural households are connected via fiber optics, bridging the longstanding digital divide.
Dr Shekhar showcased the region’s growing tech ecosystem fueled by its digitally skilled youth and premier institutions like IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar. Startups such as AgSpert are harnessing AI and drone technology to revolutionize agriculture locally and globally. Practical uses of AI and 5G include 5G-enabled telemedicine in Arunachal Pradesh and AI-driven multilingual governance tools in Tripura.
He called on industry leaders to “come, collaborate, and co-create,” positioning the Northeast as India’s gateway to ASEAN’s $5 trillion digital economy. With abundant renewable energy and favorable conditions for green data centers, the region offers lucrative opportunities for investment and innovation. Dr Shekhar envisioned a future where Northeast India drives national growth through cutting-edge technology and sustainable development.
‘New Bharat dawns as Northeast emerges as investment powerhouse’: Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, urged investors to capitalize on the transformative opportunities in Northeast India at the Rising Northeast Investor Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Highlighting the region’s rapid development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Sonowal described the Northeast as “India’s gateway to Southeast Asia” and a vital chapter in the country’s growth story. He emphasized that more than 700 ministerial visits in the past decade underline the government’s commitment to the region.
A key focus was on the rejuvenation of inland waterways, with over 20 National Waterways in the Northeast enabling multimodal connectivity, logistics hubs, and cargo movement through the Jalvahak scheme. These developments are expected to unlock new economic corridors and generate large-scale employment.
Sonowal also spotlighted the region’s emerging role in medical tourism, branding the Northeast as a potential “Heal in India” hub, thanks to its natural beauty and expanding healthcare infrastructure.
With strategic links to ASEAN and BBIN markets, the Northeast offers investors access to over 600 million consumers, making it a compelling destination for infrastructure, logistics, tourism, and wellness investments. The summit reinforced the Northeast’s position as a cornerstone of a “New Bharat.”
Renewable energy to drive Northeast’s growth vision: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, highlighted the pivotal role of renewable energy in powering the Northeast’s development during the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 in New Delhi.
Joshi underscored the region’s vast renewable potential—over 129 GW from large hydro projects and 18 GW from pumped storage—calling the Northeast India’s “Ashtalakshmi” of green power. He emphasized that the region will be key to India’s energy grid stability under the ‘One Nation, One Grid’ initiative.
The minister announced significant investor interest, with 115 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 38,856 crore signed between states and private players in the renewable sector. These investments promise substantial employment and development opportunities.
To further boost growth, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has allocated 10% of its annual scheme budget exclusively for the Northeast, offering enhanced financial assistance under schemes like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM.
Joshi cited successful projects such as the 20 MW solar park in Mizoram and the 25 MW green hydrogen plant underway in Assam. He also highlighted the region’s strategic location for cross-border clean energy exports to neighboring countries.
Calling for industry participation, Joshi assured comprehensive government support and urged investors to seize the moment for a sustainable and self-reliant future.
(With inputs from agencies)
