Shillong, Dec 20: Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr. Sukanta Majumdar has called on all stakeholders to look beyond existing challenges and work collaboratively toward harnessing the Northeast’s vast potential.

“By forging strong partnerships between the Central Ministries and State Governments, we can create an ecosystem that is inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with the aspirations of the people of the region,” he said on the eve of the 72nd Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC).

A series of Pre-Plenary Thematic and Technical Sessions were held today in which issues grappling the Northeast were discussed. The Plenary, to be chaired by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah tomorrow at Agartala will bring together key stakeholders from central ministries, state governments, and other key agencies.

Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Sukanta Majumdar, highlighted the strategic significance of Northeast India and described the region as not only a geographical asset but also a cultural and strategic bridge linking India with neighbouring countries such as China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Dr. Majumdar underscored the Government of India’s commitment to balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth in the region. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, significant progress has been made in infrastructure development, particularly in airways, railways, and waterways. The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, which provides 100% central funding for critical projects, was spotlighted as a transformative initiative for connectivity, tourism, and social infrastructure.

He focussed on improving connectivity through flagship programs like SARDP-NE, Bharatmala-I, and the East-West Corridor. He emphasized the Government’s commitment to ensuring ministerial engagement with the region, stating that 74 Union Ministers had visited the Northeast over 157 times between January 2023 and March 2024. This initiative, he said, aims to bridge the gap between government schemes and local aspirations, ensuring more effective implementation of central programs.

While lauding the achievements, Dr. Majumdar acknowledged challenges that persist, such as the need to develop border trade routes, establish smart cities, and improve digital infrastructure. He called for collective efforts from central ministries, state governments, and other stakeholders to overcome these hurdles and unlock the region’s potential in agriculture, market access, and sustainable farming practices.

Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of DoNER, assured the officials that concerns raised by state representatives had been well noted and would be addressed in collaboration with the respective ministries.

Anshuman Dey, Secretary of the NEC reflected on key focus areas discussed during the previous NEC Plenary, which included investment policies, Industry 4.0, logistics strengthening, and inter-regional trade. Progress on these fronts over the past year, he said, had been encouraging.

To position the Northeast as a prime investment destination, Dey announced that DoNER will host the North East Investor Summit in Delhi in April 2025. He also revealed that a bipartite MoU between DoNER and Invest India had been signed to bolster Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) across the eight northeastern states.

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