Northeast poised to become India’s gateway to Southeast Asia: Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that the Northeast is undergoing a historic transformation, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reshaping a region long marked by neglect into one of India’s most dynamic growth frontiers.

Speaking to the media on a decade of development in the region, Sonowal said the Northeast has moved “from the periphery of policymaking to the core of national priorities.” He highlighted that Modi’s governance has driven simultaneous progress in infrastructure, economic reforms, cultural revival and peace-building.

According to the minister, the region suffered from “seven decades of underinvestment and under-representation” but is now recognised as India’s Ashtalakshmi, reflecting its rising strategic, cultural and economic value.

Sonowal underlined connectivity as the centrepiece of Modi’s Northeast vision. Over the past ten years:

• Broad-gauge rail networks have reached Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram, opening remote interiors to freight and passenger movement.
• More than 11,000 km of national and strategic highways have been upgraded, including key corridors such as the Shillong–Nongstoin–Tura stretch, the Nechipu–Hoj NH-13 project, and capital roads to Kohima, Itanagar and Gangtok, many nearing completion in 2025.
• Air links have doubled from nine airports in 2014 to 19, significantly improving regional accessibility.

Sonowal said Modi’s vision has catalysed major investments:

• India’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant at the Numaligarh bio-refinery is generating new income avenues for farmers.
• A ₹22,594-crore expansion has tripled the refinery’s capacity, positioning the Northeast as a key energy hub.
• The upcoming ₹27,000-crore semiconductor plant at Jagiroad is expected to manufacture 15 billion chips annually and create 27,000 jobs, marking a major leap for advanced manufacturing in the region.

Sonowal noted that peace agreements with Bodo, Karbi, Bru and other groups, coupled with a 75% reduction in AFSPA coverage since 2014, have paved the way for lasting stability.

Under the Act East Policy, he said, the Northeast is emerging as India’s logistics and cultural bridge to Southeast Asia. Integrated check posts, improved border infrastructure, and multimodal transport links—spanning waterways, highways and rail—are driving new opportunities for trade, tourism and regional cooperation.