Shillong: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday called for a trade-ready and investment-ready Northeast as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project approaches completion, stressing the need to prepare the region to harness emerging economic opportunities under the Centre’s Act East Policy.
Addressing the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) at the Meghalaya State Convention Centre in Shillong, Lalduhoma also submitted the final report of the High-Level Task Force on the Northeast Economic Corridor (NEEC) to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who chaired the meeting in his capacity as NEC Chairman.
The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy provides a strong framework for the development of the Northeast and positions the region to become a major driver of India’s future growth.
“The Northeast is strategically located and endowed with rich natural resources, vibrant human capital and a unique cultural heritage,” he said.
Advocating a comprehensive “One-Grid Approach” to regional connectivity, Lalduhoma proposed integrating roads, railways, air connectivity, waterways, power, telecommunications and logistics under a coordinated development framework.
Referring to the near-completion of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, he said the region must now focus on institutional and social preparedness to maximise its benefits.
He urged the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to support programmes aimed at investment readiness, trade readiness, skill development, entrepreneurship promotion, border infrastructure, logistics hubs and community confidence-building.
The Chief Minister also called for a cluster-based approach to investments rather than isolated projects. He identified bamboo, agri-horticulture value chains, food processing, textiles, eco-tourism, green energy and digital services as sectors with significant potential for inclusive growth across the region.
He further proposed the development of a common Northeast tourism circuit with unified branding and facilitation mechanisms.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the region, Lalduhoma said the Northeast could emerge as a major logistics and trade gateway through the Act East Policy and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.
He also stressed the need for effective implementation of the mandated 10 per cent Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) allocation for the Northeast and proposed a dedicated coordination mechanism under DoNER or the NEC to improve convergence, monitoring and implementation.
Describing youth as the region’s most valuable resource, the Chief Minister called for greater investment in skill development, incubation centres, tourism and hospitality, logistics, agribusiness, green technologies and start-up ecosystems.
To accelerate project implementation, he suggested the establishment of Project Implementation Units (PIUs) in every Northeastern state for faster processing and approval of DoNER-funded projects.
Lalduhoma also expressed gratitude for the recognition of Mizoram as the “Ginger Capital of India” and for the support extended to the Mizoram Ginger USP Project.
He highlighted the proposed Thenzawl Peace City project, saying it has the potential to emerge as a major hub for tourism, education, healthcare, sports and agro-based industries.
Referring to the Northeast Economic Corridor report submitted during the plenary, the Chief Minister said its implementation would provide a unified framework for strengthening inter-state connectivity, tourism, investment, trade and logistics, generating shared prosperity across the region.
The 73rd NEC Plenary was attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states and senior government officials.
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