Rising North East Summit Draws Rs 4.3 Trillion Investment
27 May 2025 CW Team
The Rising North East Investors Summit 2025, held from 23–24 May at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, concluded with investment pledges totalling Rs 4.3 trillion, positioning the region as India’s next economic engine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day summit, which drew participation from over 80 countries and major industry leaders.
In his valedictory address, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, described the Northeast as a hub of global partnership and a frontier for mutual growth. He credited the government’s "whole-of-government" strategy and PM Modi’s commitment to the region’s development for the unprecedented investor confidence.
“Over the past year, we’ve undertaken nine domestic roadshows, six state-level roundtables, and engaged with over 131 investors and diplomats from 95 nations. This has now yielded investment proposals worth Rs 4.3 trillion,” the Minister said.
Prominent industrialists including Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Anil Agarwal pledged investments exceeding Rs 1.55 trillion, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, digital services, telecommunications, and local enterprise development. Reliance committed Rs 750 billion, Adani Group pledged Rs 500 billion over the next decade, and Vedanta announced plans to invest over Rs 300 billion in the region.
The summit was the largest of its kind hosted by the Ministry of DoNER. Delegations from ASEAN, Japan, and Europe attended, with the sentiment widely shared that the Northeast holds the key to India’s growth and connectivity with Southeast Asia.
Shri Scindia highlighted key infrastructure achievements in the region since 2014, including the expansion of national highways from 10,905 km to 16,207 km, the addition of 694.5 MW of power generation capacity, and the doubling of operational airports from 9 to 17. Thirty-six major aviation projects have also been completed.
Referring to the Northeast as "Ashtalakshmi", the Minister said task forces in eight focus sectors—agriculture, tourism, sports, textiles, infrastructure, economic corridors, investment, and animal husbandry—are enabling each state to create a bespoke development roadmap.
Supporting this momentum, MoS for External Affairs Shri Pabitra Margherita and MoS DoNER Dr. Sukanta Majumdar hailed the summit as a transformative milestone. “Bharat Mandapam became a national platform for showcasing the Northeast’s promise,” Dr Majumdar said.
Secretary DoNER Shri Chanchal Kumar noted the region’s strength in resources, tourism, sports, and music, reinforcing its position as India’s international gateway. The ministry’s efforts have culminated in strong global engagement and robust interest from investors, diplomats, and corporates.
The summit hosted Business-to-Government and Business-to-Business meetings, startup showcases, and sectoral exhibitions. The Prime Minister had earlier highlighted Rs 210 billion invested in education in the region over the past decade, with over 800 schools, nine new medical colleges, and AIIMS Guwahati among the achievements.
Concluding the event, Shri Scindia reaffirmed, “Every MoU signed and proposal discussed will be pursued rigorously. The Northeast’s economic renaissance is not just envisioned—it is in motion.”