Aizawl: Mizoram CM Lalduhoma on Thursday urged the ministry of development of north east region (DoNER) to support investment readiness, trade readiness, skill development, entrepreneurship promotion, border infrastructure and logistics hub, and community confidence-building programme as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) nears completion.Speaking at the the 73rd Plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, in Shillong, Lalduhoma said 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.As convener of the high-level task force on the Northeast Economic Corridor (NEEC) under the DoNER ministry, Lalduhoma formally submitted NEEC’s final report to Shah. The CM said 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.Advocating a comprehensive “One-Grid Approach” to regional connectivity, Lalduhoma proposed integrating roads, railways, air links, waterways, power, telecommunications and logistics under a coordinated development framework.He said tourism should be developed through a common northeast tourism circuit , adding that the northeast can emerge as a major logistics and trade gateway through the Act East Policy and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.The CM also called cluster-based approach to investments 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 the inclusive growth, he said.Lalduhoma stressed the need for effective implementation of the 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) allocated to the northeast. 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,” he said.The plenary session was attended by Union minister for DoNER Jyotiraditya M Scindia, minister of state for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, governors and chief ministers of the northeastern states and senior govt officials.Shah started a two-day official visit to Tripura on Thursday, following the inauguration of the plenary session.(With inputs from Biswendu Bhattacharjee)
Lalduhoma with Amit Shah and Jyotiraditya M Scindia during the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in ShillongHC Vanlalruata
