Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates and addresses Rising North East Investors Summit :

Today, when I am on this grand stage of Rising Northeast Investors Summit, there is a feeling of pride, intimacy, belongingness in my heart and most importantly, there is immense confidence about the future.

Just a few months ago we celebrated the Ashtalakshmi festival here at Bharat Mandapam. Today we are celebrating investment here in the Northeast. Industry leaders have come here in such a large number. This shows that everyone is enthusiastic, excited and has new dreams about the Northeast.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the resounding success of the Northeast Rising Summit. India is celebrated as one of the most diverse nations in the world, and the Northeast stands out as the most diverse region within this diverse country.

From trade to tradition, textiles to tourism, the Northeast’s rich diversity is its greatest strength. From bioeconomy and bamboo to tea production and petroleum, from sports and skills development to ecotourism and organic products, the Northeast is an energy powerhouse. This is why the Northeast is our Ashtalakshmi.

To build a developed India, it is very important for Eastern India to develop. Northeast is the most important part of eastern India. For us EAST means – Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform. This is our government’s policy for Eastern India.

Over the past few years, our Central Ministers have visited the Northeast more than 700 times, staying overnight. We have progressed from merely Looking East to actively living the mantra of Act East. The results of this shift in approach are clearly visible on the ground. There was a time when the Northeast was regarded as a frontier region. Today, it stands proudly as a front-runner in India’s growth story.