“The Northeast is no longer on the periphery of India—it is the new epicentre of India’s development journey,” said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025. Organised as the largest cross-sector investment dialogue ever hosted in the region, the summit brought together attendees including global investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

In a keynote session titled “Education to Entrepreneurship: Unlocking Northeast’s Brightest Potential”, the Minister articulated a compelling vision for the region. He said, "The Northeast is not just a region; it’s a vibrant force reshaping India’s future. From Mizoram achieving 100% literacy rates to the entrepreneurial spirit of its youth, the region exemplifies resilience and community strength. As we celebrate this transformation, we must nurture risk-taking, skill development, and ecosystem support to unlock its potential.”

Mentioning the ‘Skilling for AI Readiness’ (SOAR) programme, which the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is currently developing in collaboration with Ministry of Education and NCVET, he added, “The future lies in AI, and India must lead by building indigenous models and preparing our youth for an AI-driven world. Through Skilling for AI Readiness, we plan to equip students with tools to innovate ethically using AI. The collective spirit of the Northeast, paired with national support, is a beacon of progress. We must harness this energy, break old mindsets, and build a future where every young mind from Arunachal to Assam shapes India’s global narrative," he added.

Shri Chaudhary also drew examples from real lives to showcase the potential of the region. One such example was of Shri Bhabhendra Mohan Borgohain from Assam, who formed a Farmer Producer Company with 500 tea growers and has established a state-of-the-art common facility centre with the capacity to process 1 lakh kg of organic and specialty teas annually.

“Another beneficiary, Ms. Merina Lahiri, has woven her dreams with threads of skill and purpose. She now leads a team of 300 women farmers and 15 artisans, producing Eri Silk product which are rooted in tradition which is a sustainable practice.  Her FPO is now recognized by the Government of India program for FPOs.  These are all success stories that are signals of a larger flux of green roots emerging in the economy of India.” Shri Chaudhary said.

In a region historically underrepresented in mainstream economic planning, today’s summit sent a powerful signal. As Shri Chaudhary put it, “From the tea gardens of Assam to digital creators in Shillong, the Northeast is not waiting for change—it is architecting it. And it is time the rest of India—and the world—invests in that spirit.”

He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to enabling structural reforms, building world-class institutions, and accelerating investments in the youth of the Northeast. “Let us move from pilots to platforms, from isolated successes to systemic transformation. The Ashta Lakshmi of the Northeast are not just cultural icons—they are growth engines. Let us rise with them.”

On the sidelines of the summit, a dedicated Udyamita se Atmanirbhar Pavilion set up by MSDE, showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of the Northeast, featuring eight dynamic entrepreneurs trained by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE). Representing diverse sectors—from agro-processing to eco-tourism—they embodied the transformative impact of Skill India initiatives in the region. Their stories of grit and growth served as powerful reminders that with the right training and ecosystem, local talent can scale national ambitions.

The efforts of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Northeastern region have empowered more than 49,000 youth with apprenticeship opportunities and entrepreneurship support to more than 3 lakhs through EAP and EDP programmes, since 2015. And women participation in entrepreneurship programmes is more than 75%.

The Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 is a landmark platform to foster convergence between public policy, private capital, and grassroots innovation across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. With focused discussions on sectors like tourism, agriculture, logistics, digital economy, and green enterprises, the summit aims to position the region as an engine of sustainable, inclusive, and borderless growth.

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Beena Yadav/Shahbaz Hasibi