GUWAHATI, June 5: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the Northeast has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, evolving from a region once viewed as India’s distant frontier into a key driver of economic growth and regional connectivity under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Ashta Lakshmi.
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| Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Governors, Chief Ministers and senior leaders of the Northeastern states pose for a group photograph during the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong on June 4, 2026. (Image: X/himantabiswa) |
In a series of posts following the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Sarma highlighted the changing narrative of the Northeast and underscored the role played by the NEC in shaping the region’s development trajectory.
According to the Chief Minister, the Northeast is increasingly being recognised as Bharat’s eastern growth corridor, a strategic region linking India with Southeast Asia through enhanced connectivity, trade and investment opportunities.
Sarma noted that the NEC, which was once largely associated with providing grants and supporting incremental development projects, has evolved into a major institution for regional planning and cooperation. He said the council has supported the development of more than 10,500 kilometres of roads and over 2,500 kilometres of power transmission infrastructure across the Northeast, while also promoting greater collaboration among the eight Northeastern states.
The Chief Minister said one of the most significant achievements in recent years has been the transformation of public discourse surrounding the region.
“The conversation has shifted from insurgency to investment, from remoteness to resilience, and from geography being seen as a challenge to being viewed as an opportunity,” he said.
Sarma pointed to the decline in insurgency-related concerns as one of the clearest indicators of change in the region. Referring to remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the NEC plenary in Shillong, he said the Northeast has reached a stage where the focus can move beyond law and order issues toward protecting citizens’ rights and accelerating economic development.
The Chief Minister said the improvement in the security environment has created favourable conditions for investment, infrastructure expansion and economic growth throughout the region.
Highlighting Assam’s role in the transformation, Sarma said the state has emerged as a key economic anchor for the Northeast. He cited initiatives such as Advantage Assam, the development of semiconductor-related projects, expansion of inland waterways and the growth of industrial corridors as examples of Assam’s increasing contribution to regional economic development.
According to him, these initiatives are helping position Assam as a major hub for trade, logistics and investment, benefiting not only the state but the wider Northeast.
Sarma further emphasised the significance of the Centre’s Act East Policy, describing it as a catalyst for integrating the Northeast with neighbouring countries and global markets. He said the region is no longer India’s “last mile” but is becoming the country’s “first gateway” to Southeast Asia.
Through improved connectivity, cross-border trade and enhanced infrastructure, the Northeast is increasingly serving as a bridge linking India with emerging economic opportunities across the eastern neighbourhood, he added.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came in the context of the NEC plenary, which brought together Governors, Chief Ministers and senior officials from across the Northeast to discuss development priorities, regional cooperation and future growth strategies.
Sarma said the transformation of the Northeast reflects the combined efforts of the Centre, state governments and regional institutions, and reiterated his belief that the region is poised to play a central role in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
