India’s Northeast Emerges as Key Economic Frontier with Government and Corporate Commitments
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted the Northeast as a vital economic growth region, declaring it India’s new growth engine during the inaugural Rising Northeast Investors Summit in New Delhi.
Government Focus on Infrastructure and Connectivity
Modi emphasized the importance of the Northeast as a dynamic region of the country, stressing the government’s commitment to infrastructure and connectivity to unlock its economic potential. The prime minister described the region as a symbol of diversity and potential, with a focus on empowering, acting, strengthening, and transforming the region.
“For us, east is not just a direction. For us, east means Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform,” the prime minister said, highlighting the government’s efforts to ensure the region becomes a hub of economic activity.
Regional Potential and Economic Diversification
Modi underscored the Northeast’s diverse economic offerings, including bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports, and eco-tourism. He also noted the region’s potential in organic products and energy, referring to it as ‘Ashta Lakshmi’—a term symbolizing prosperity and fortune.
“From trade to tradition, from textile to tourism, the diversity of the Northeast is its strength,” he said, reinforcing the region’s unique economic and cultural attributes.
Government Investment and Development
Minister for Communications and Development of Northeast Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, highlighted the government’s sustained efforts over the past decade, which have transformed the region into a land of opportunity. He noted that the government has increased the gross budgetary support from 10% to enable an investment of nearly ₹6.75 lakh crore in the northeastern region, a significant step in redefining the region’s growth trajectory.
Corporate Commitments to Boost Regional Economy
Industry leaders announced major investment commitments that could reshape the region’s economy. Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani pledged ₹75,000 crore over the next five years, targeting agriculture, telecommunications, digital services, and local enterprise development.
“We see immense potential in the Northeast and are committed to contributing to its transformation into a modern economic zone,” Ambani said, emphasizing the company’s long-term vision for the region.
Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani also announced an additional ₹50,000 crore investment over the next decade in green energy, roads, and digital infrastructure, on top of the ₹50,000 crore already committed to Assam. Adani emphasized the importance of local jobs, entrepreneurship, and community engagement in the region’s development.
Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal announced an additional ₹30,000 crore investment in the Northeast, expanding on the company’s earlier ₹50,000 crore commitment to Assam. The fresh investment will span oil and gas, critical minerals, power, data centres, and renewable energy across multiple states in the region. With a total commitment of ₹80,000 crore, Vedanta expects to generate up to 100,000 jobs in the region.
Regional Growth and Future Prospects
The summit marks a significant shift in investor interest toward the Northeast, a region that has long been viewed as strategic but underdeveloped. With government backing and increasing corporate commitments, the region is now being positioned as a corridor for growth, innovation, and green transformation.
As the Northeast continues to attract attention and investment, it is poised to become a key economic engine for India, driven by its natural and human resources, and the vision of Prime Minister Modi.