141/2026-2027

Aizawl, 4 June 2026: The 73rd Plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) was held today at the Meghalaya State Convention Centre, Shillong, under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, who is also the Chairman of the NEC.

During the Plenary, Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma formally submitted the Final Report of the High-Level Task Force on the Northeast Economic Corridor (NEEC), constituted under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), to Shri Amit Shah. He also addressed the gathering on key issues relating to the development of the Northeast.

In his address, the Chief Minister stated that the Prime Minister’s Act East Policy provides a strong and visionary framework for the development of the Northeast. He observed that the region is strategically positioned to become a major driver of India’s future growth, endowed with rich natural resources, vibrant human capital and unique cultural heritage.

Among the major points highlighted by the Chief Minister were:

Connectivity should be pursued through a comprehensive “One-Grid Approach,” integrating roads, railways, air links, waterways, power, telecommunications and logistics into a coordinated development framework.

With the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project nearing completion, the region must prepare institutionally and socially to harness emerging opportunities. He urged the Ministry of DoNER to support investment-readiness and trade-readiness programmes, skill development, entrepreneurship promotion, border infrastructure, logistics hubs and community confidence-building initiatives.

Investments should be promoted through cluster approaches rather than isolated projects. Sectors such as bamboo, agri-horticulture value chains, food processing, textiles, eco-tourism, green energy and digital services offer significant potential for inclusive growth.

Tourism should be developed through a common Northeast tourism circuit with unified branding and facilitation mechanisms.

The Northeast can emerge as a major logistics and trade gateway through the Act East Policy and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.

The mandated 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) earmarked for the Northeast should be implemented effectively. He proposed the creation of a dedicated coordination mechanism under DoNER or NEC to ensure better convergence and monitoring.

The youth of the region are its most valuable resource. Greater emphasis should therefore be placed on skill development, incubation, tourism and hospitality, logistics, agribusiness, green technology and start-up ecosystems.

To accelerate project approvals under DoNER Project Implementation Units (PIUs) may be established in every State.

The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude for the recognition of Mizoram as the “Ginger Capital of India” and for the support extended to the Mizoram Ginger USP Project. He highlighted the importance of successfully implementing the proposed Thenzawl Peace City, which has the potential to emerge as a major centre for tourism, education, healthcare, sports and agro-based development.

Referring to the submission of the High-Level Task Force Report on the Northeast Economic Corridor, the Chief Minister stated that its implementation would provide a unified framework for strengthening inter-state connectivity, tourism, investments, trade and logistics across the Northeast, thereby generating shared prosperity for all the States of the region.

The 73rd NEC Plenary was attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for DoNER Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Chief Ministers of the Northeastern States and senior government officials.