Guwahati, June 19: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the Centre to allow Northeastern states greater access to funding through Externally Aided Projects (EAPs), highlighting the region’s strong implementation record and the transformative impact of such projects on infrastructure and development.

Addressing the inaugural session of the conference on “Leveraging Externally Aided Projects in the North-Eastern States,” in Shillong, Sarma said he had appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to enhance borrowing limits under the EAP framework for Northeastern governments. Chief Ministers of North Eastern states were present on the occasion.

Speaking on behalf of Assam and other Northeastern states, the Chief Minister said the region’s “exceptional track record” and transparent execution of schemes justified greater access to externally aided funding.

According to Sarma, Assam alone currently has EAP-backed projects worth around ₹53,000 crore under implementation. Supported by multilateral financial institutions, these projects span critical sectors including bridges and embankments, healthcare infrastructure, robotics, and major power projects.

He noted that EAPs have enabled the state government to undertake several large-scale initiatives that would otherwise have been difficult due to high borrowing costs. Besides financing, the projects have also introduced international project management practices and global standards into government functioning, he said.

Describing the conference as an important platform for strengthening collaboration among Northeastern states, Sarma lauded the Ministry of Finance for organising the event and said enhanced access to EAP funding could accelerate the region’s development trajectory.

The Chief Minister reiterated the Northeast’s commitment to becoming a key driver of India’s growth and development in the coming years.