Northeast to be gateway for trade with Southeast Asia: Modi

India’s northeast is not a “frontier region” any more, it is the “frontrunner of growth,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pitching for investments in the eight States that constitute the region

Inaugurating the Rising Northeast Summit, the Prime Minister said that the region offers wide range of economic and industrial opportunities. India has “new dreams” for the northeast, he said, adding that the region would emerge as a gateway for trade with southeast Asia over the next decade

The event comes against the backdrop of the May 17 order by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade to close land ports with Bangladesh

India is termed as the most diverse nation in the world. But our northeast is the most diverse part of our diverse nation. From trade to tradition, textile to tourism, northeast’s diversity is a very big strength of the region

He listed the bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports and eco-tourism as some of the areas where the region is an emerging hub. “Northeast is the powerhouse of energy,” said Mr. Modi, describing the region’s eight States as ‘Ashta Lakshmis’, or the eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi

The Prime Minister said that the northeast would emerge as a gateway to trade with the ASEAN bloc over the coming decade. Northeast will be a strong bridge of trade with Southeast Asia.

“East does not mean just direction for us. It means, Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform. This is our government’s policy for eastern India,” Mr. Modi said

The northeast’s economic future received considerable attention in March when Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus described the region as “land locked” and offered his country as the “guardian of the ocean” that could help China access the region’s commercial space. India had strongly objected to that characterisation