Yunus counter: Northeast key to India's growth, says PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Days after Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the Bangladesh interim govt, said the "landlocked" northeastern part of India faced the prospect of becoming an extension of the Chinese economy, PM Modi on Friday said "confidence is the biggest transformation the region has seen in the last decade" and called it a a prime investment destination and frontrunner of growth.
"There was a time when the northeast was seen only as a frontier region - today it is becoming the frontrunner of growth," Modi said. He highlighted growth in sectors such as bamboo, petroleum, solar energy and organic farming, and encouraged investors to seize "first-mover advantage".
He was speaking at the inaugural session of 'Rising North East Investor Summit', which saw a combined investment commitment of over Rs 2 lakh crore from industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and others.
Modi: Geography can't be a deterrent to NE's growth
During a recent visit to China, Muhammad Yunus had described India's northeastern states - commonly referred to as the 'Seven Sisters' - as "landlocked" and lacking direct access to the ocean.
He had said that Bangladesh, the "only guardian of the ocean for the region", could, because of its strategic location, become an extension of the Chinese economy and act as a conduit for Chinese investments into India's NorthEast, as well as Nepal and Bhutan.
PM Narendra Modi junked the notion that geography could be a deterrent for NorthEast's growth. He positioned the region at the heart of India's Act East Policy, and said that "the NorthEast will become a strong bridge and gateway for Asean trade". With trade expected to surpass $200 billion, logistics hubs are emerging in Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala.
The PM attributed the growing confidence in the region to unprecedented development across sectors - from highways and digital networks to startups and education.
Over 11,000km of highways, new railway lines and an expanding air network now connect what was once a relatively isolated region. Projects like Sela Tunnel, Bhupen Hazarika bridge and India-Myanmar-Thailand highway, the PM said, are emblematic of an "infrastructure revolution".
"Good infrastructure is not just about roads - it's about trust, safety, and investment confidence," PM Modi emphasised.
On security and stability, he noted a historic transformation, saying, "There was a time when the NorthEast was associated with bombs, guns and blockades...
Now, it's opportunity, peace, and prosperity." Over 10,000 youth have surrendered arms, and peace accords have strengthened governance in the region.
Meanwhile, Reliance Industries chairperson and managing director Mukesh Ambani announced plans to increase the company's total investment in the region to Rs 75,000 crore over the next five years.
Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani followed with a fresh investment announcement of Rs 50,000 crore over the next 10 years, in addition to a Rs 50,000-crore commitment made earlier this year in Assam.
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