Context:

• The Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) is organizing the “Rising Northeast: The Investor Summit” in Delhi.
• With the participation of PM Modi, DoNER Minister, and CMs of all 8 North-Eastern states, the summit aims to showcase investment potential and developmental strides in the region.

 Historical Background - From Conflict to Connectivity:

• Legacy of insurgency:
  • Post-Independence decades saw insurgency and separatist movements (e.g., Naga, Mizo, ULFA, NDFB).
  • The Assam Accord (1985) emerged after major anti-infiltration movements led by AASU and AAGSP.
  • The Union government historically viewed the region primarily through a security lens.
• From ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’:
  • Look East Policy initiated under P. V. Narasimha Rao to boost ties with South and Southeast Asia.
  • Atal Bihari Vajpayee institutionalized regional focus with the establishment of the DoNER Ministry in 2001.
  • The then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech (in 2011, in Chennai) catalyzed a shift toward “Act East” Policy, formally adopted by the Modi government in 2014.

Policy Transformation Under Current Government:

• Northeast as a gateway and pivot:
  • Region repositioned as a geostrategic pivot to ASEAN and East Asia.
  • Political integration facilitated developmental push as the ruling party at the Centre formed government in several NE states between 2015–2018.
• Infrastructure push:
  • Union ministries ensured continuous ministerial presence in the region.
  • The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) allocated 10% of its budget to the region - 4,950 km of National Highways built with $5 billion investment.
  • Launch of North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) in 2018 with a $1 billion budget.

Strategic Location and Connectivity Projects:

• International borders and regional linkages: The region shares 5,484 km of borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet (China).
• Key connectivity projects:
  • India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, and revival of Stilwell Road will enhance the opportunities for land-based trade between India and Southeast Asia.
  • Sittwe Port (Myanmar) and Chittagong Port (Bangladesh) can act as potential openings to the world’s busiest sea routes in the Indian Ocean.

Investment Focus - Aligning with Regional Strengths:

• Renewable energy:
  • Hydropower: 40% of national potential (estimated at 62,000 MW); however, only 6.9% utilized.
  • Solar power: Potential of 57,360 MW; though only 17% of the capacity is installed.
  • Scope for wind and small hydro projects.
• Tourism development:
  • While neighbouring Thailand gets 35 million foreign tourists annually, and the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia gets over 2 million foreigners every year, the Northeast has less than 2 lakh foreign visitors.
  • Enormous potential in eco-tourism and cultural tourism - Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Kamakhya Temple (Assam), Living Root Bridges (Meghalaya), Tawang Glaciers (Arunachal Pradesh), Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Human resource development: Despite high literacy rate (~80%), and high english proficiency, major skill gaps necessitate the urgent need for capacity building and training infrastructure.

Conclusion - Vision for a Self-Sustaining Northeast:

• The “Rising Northeast” summit symbolizes a new developmental era, driven by strategic geography, rich natural and human resources, integrated infrastructure, and tailored investment priorities.
• To truly realize its potential, the region needs a developmental vision rooted in its unique strengths, not a one-size-fits-all model.
• The summit is a step toward this transformative agenda.