NEW DELHI :

 

 

THE North-Eastern region, once synonymous with “bombs, guns and blockades”, is now witnessing unprecedented progress, with the Government determined to accelerate its growth story, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. Addressing the Rising North East Investors Summit here, the Prime Minister said diversity of the North-East is its biggest strength, and every State in the region is declaring its readiness for investment and leadership. “The North-East is emerging as a key destination for two strategic sectors -- energy and semiconductors,” he said and added that the role of Assam is growing in strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

 

He said the first Made in India chip from a North-Eastbased semiconductor plant will soon be introduced, signalling a major milestone for the region that will unlock opportunities for cutting-edge technology and solidify the region’s position in India’s high-tech industrial growth. The Prime Minister said peace and law and order are themostcrucial factors for any region’s development. He said the North-East was once associated with “bombs, guns and blockades” that severely impacted opportunities for its youth.“Our Government has a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and insurgency,” he said.

 

The Government’s consistent efforts towards peace agreements resulted in 10,000 youngindividuals abandoning arms to embrace peace over thepast 10-11years,Modisaid. He said this shift has unlocked new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities within the region. The Prime Minister said the Government has made extensiveinvestmentsinhydropower and solar power across all North-Easternstates,withseveral thousand crore worth of projects already approved.

 

He said beyond investment opportunities in plants and infrastructure, there is significant potential in manufacturing, including solar modules, cells, storage solutions and research.Modi said theNorthEast is synonymous with a thriving bio-economy and bamboo industry, tea production andpetroleum,sports and skill, as well as an emerging hub for ecotourism. Underlining that the NorthEast embodies the essence of Ashtalakshmi, bringing prosperity andopportunity,he said theregionis paving theway for organic products and stands as a powerhouse of energy and “is emerging as the frontrunner of growth”. RELIANCETOINVEST RS 75K CR, ADANI RS 50K CR IN N-E: OIL-TO-TELECOM conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd will invest Rs 75,000 crore in North-EasternStatesin setting up 350 biogas plants, expanding its telecom services, retail footprint, and clean energy projects, chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Friday.

 

Billionaire Gautam Adani alsocommittedtoinvesting an additionalRs 50,000 croreover thenext 10yearsin green energy, road construction and creatingdigitalinfrastructurein the NorthEasternStatesashisconglomerate looks to expand its presence in the east. This investment is on top of Rs 50,000 crore that his group had committed to investing in AssaminFebruary.Speaking at Summit here, Reliance Industries Ltd chairman and managing director said his groupwillinvestin factories for high-quality FMCG products and setting up a 150-bed cancer hospital in Manipur