North East is a complete package for tourism; has vast investment potential: PM Modi
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At the Rising North East Investors Summit, he stated that Northeast development’s positive impact on tourism is evident, with visitor numbers doubling. Underscoring the need to elevate region’s tourism further, he pointed out the vast investment potential in eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Expressing immense confidence in the future of the Northeast region, Modi said, “the Northeast is the most diverse region of our diverse nation”. He emphasised the vast potential spanning trade, tradition, textiles, and tourism, stating that the region's diversity is its greatest strength.
He noted that the region is an ideal destination for global conferences, concerts, and destination weddings, positioning it as a complete tourism package. He stated that as development reaches every corner of the Northeast, its positive impact on tourism is evident, with visitor numbers doubling. He remarked that these are not just statistics—this surge has led to the rise of homestays in villages, new employment opportunities for young guides, and the expansion of the tour and travel ecosystem. Underscoring the need to elevate Northeast tourism further, he pointed out the vast investment potential in eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
Underlining that robust infrastructure plays a key role in making the tourism sector attractive and instilling confidence among investors, Modi highlighted that well-developed roads, power infrastructure, and logistics networks form the backbone of any industry, facilitating seamless trade and economic growth. He remarked that infrastructure is the foundation of development, and that the government has initiated an Infrastructure Revolution in the Northeast. He acknowledged the region’s past challenges but asserted that it is now emerging as a Land of Opportunities.
He stated that thousands of crores have been invested in enhancing connectivity, citing projects such as the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and the Bhupen Hazarika Bridge in Assam. Modi also highlighted key advancements in the past decade, including the construction of 11,000 kilometres of highways, extensive new railway lines, a doubling of airport numbers, the development of waterways on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, and the installation of hundreds of mobile towers.
Stressing the importance of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which will provide direct access from Myanmar to Thailand, strengthening India's connectivity with Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos, Modi highlighted the government's efforts to expedite the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Project, which will link the Kolkata Port to Myanmar's Sittwe Port.
Notably, the Rising North East Investors Summit, a two-day event from May 23-24 culminates various pre-summit activities, such as series of roadshows, and states' roundtables including Ambassador’s Meet and Bilateral Chambers Meet organised by the central government with active support from the state governments of the Northeastern region. The Summit will include ministerial sessions, Business-to-Government sessions, Business-to-Business meetings, startups and exhibitions of policy and related initiatives taken by State Government and Central ministries for investment promotion.
The focus sectors of investment promotion include Tourism and Hospitality, Agro-Food Processing and allied sectors; Textiles, Handloom, and Handicrafts; Healthcare; Education and Skill Development; among others.