NE emerging as India's new growth engine under PM Modi: Scindia
New Delhi/Agartala, July 9 Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Thursday said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeast region is rapidly emerging as India's new engine of growth and is poised to play a defining role in the country's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat.
Addressing the Destination Tripura Business Conclave 2026 here, the Union Minister said the region has undergone unprecedented transformation in recent years, driven by improved connectivity, infrastructure development and sustained policy support.
In his virtual speech from New Delhi, Scindia urged industry leaders to partner with Tripura in its remarkable growth story, describing the state as one of the Northeast's most promising investment destinations.
He noted that PM Modi's transformative Act East Policy has repositioned the region from India's frontier to its gateway to Southeast Asia, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for trade, investment and regional connectivity.
Describing Tripura as standing at the intersection of connectivity, commerce, and opportunity, the Minister said the Destination Tripura Business Conclave showcases a state ready to become a preferred destination for investors seeking long-term opportunities.
He said Tripura is emerging as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia, connecting businesses to the ASEAN region, home to over 670 million people and one of the world's largest economic blocs.
The DoNER Minister highlighted Tripura's exceptional strengths, including abundant reserves of natural gas, bamboo, agarwood, rubber, tea, spices, and horticultural produce; a highly educated workforce; investor-friendly policies; expanding infrastructure; and India's third International Internet Gateway.
He noted that Tripura's emergence as India's largest bamboo-producing state and the country's second-largest producer of natural rubber offers immense opportunities for manufacturing, food processing, value addition, logistics, exports and technology-led industries.
Emphasising that "investment follows confidence, confidence follows infrastructure, and infrastructure follows vision", Scindia said the Government of India has fundamentally transformed the Northeast's development landscape over the past decade through enhanced connectivity, modern infrastructure and strong institutional support.
He highlighted key initiatives such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, the Special Economic Zone at Sabroom in southern Tripura, the 'Maitri Setu' bridge between Tripura and Bangladesh and the Integrated Check Post, all of which are positioning Tripura as a springboard for exports to Southeast Asia.
Calling upon investors to seize the opportunities before them, Scindia said Tripura's transformation from a landlocked state into a gateway to the Bay of Bengal reflects the larger transformation of the Northeast under PM Modi's leadership.
Reaffirming the Government of India's unwavering commitment to the region, he said the Ashtalakshmi States are poised to lead India's next chapter of economic growth.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Tripura Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, among others, also addressed the inaugural session of the business conclave.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sounds promising but I'm cautiously optimistic. We've heard such announcements before. Need to see actual implementation on ground - especially for small farmers and local artisans who should benefit from bamboo and rubber processing. Hope the benefits trickle down to grassroots level.
Impressive to see India's Act East Policy in action. The trilateral highway and Kaladan project could be game-changers for regional trade. Tripura positioning itself as a gateway to ASEAN makes perfect economic sense. Curious to see how this competes with similar initiatives in other ASEAN member states.
As someone who travels to the NE frequently for work, I can vouch for the improvement in connectivity. But we still need better last-mile connectivity in rural areas and more consistent power supply for industries. Scindia ji is right about the potential though - bamboo and rubber industries alone can create lakhs of jobs.
Good to see focus on NE development. But let's not forget that infrastructure is only half the battle - we also need skill development centers, easy access to credit for MSMEs, and better healthcare facilities in these states. Hope the government's vision includes holistic development, not just business conclaves.
The International Internet Gateway point is a huge deal! 😮 This puts Tripura ahead of many other states for digital and tech investments. Combine that with the gateway to ASEAN, and we might see a tech boom in the region. Just hope local talent gets priority in these new jobs.
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