Shillong, June 5: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the Northeast is no longer defined by its geographical distance from the rest of India but by its strategic proximity to Southeast Asia, underscoring the region’s growing importance in trade, connectivity and economic development.
Addressing the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council in Shillong, Sarma said the region is increasingly being shaped by India’s Act East vision, expanding international markets, cultural exchanges and emerging economic opportunities.
Highlighting Assam’s role in the region’s transformation, the Chief Minister said sustained investments in infrastructure have helped position the state as a major economic driver in the Northeast. He noted that the NEC has played a pivotal role in this progress by supporting the development of more than 10,500 kilometres of roads and 2,500 kilometres of power transmission infrastructure across the region.
Sarma also pointed to a significant change in the narrative surrounding the Northeast, stating that discussions have increasingly shifted from insurgency and instability to development and opportunity.
Referring to remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the plenary session, Sarma said the region has reached a stage where the emphasis can move from maintaining law and order to safeguarding citizens’ rights and accelerating development initiatives.
The Chief Minister highlighted Assam’s progress in sectors such as semiconductors, inland waterways, industrial corridors and hospitality, saying the state is steadily emerging as the economic anchor of the Northeast.
He further credited the NEC with fostering a spirit of regional cooperation among northeastern states and stressed that future growth would depend on integrated infrastructure, interconnected markets and a shared development vision rather than isolated state-level efforts.
Sarma said the region must now prepare for emerging opportunities in fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain infrastructure, foreign trade and health tourism.
The plenary session was attended by Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, governors, chief ministers and senior officials from the eight northeastern states, along with representatives of the Central Government.
