Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) offer more than funding, bringing technical expertise from partner institutions that study local challenges and share knowledge to improve implementation.He was speaking at a seminar on “Leveraging Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) in the North Eastern States” organised by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, in Shillong.The inaugural session was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and attended by chief ministers from all North Eastern States, senior regional officials and central Govt officials.The seminar aimed to strengthen North Eastern States’ capacity to implement EAPs, facilitate sharing of experiences and best practices, review projects implemented over the years and explore ways to design more effective and impactful projects for the region.In his address, Lalduhoma said EAPs have played a significant role in Mizoram’s development, adding that the state is among the leading performers in the North East in accessing EAP funding.He cited key initiatives backed by international development partners, including the World Bank-funded Aizawl-Thenzawl-Lunglei Road and Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported road projects, including the Mizoram State Roads II Project to strengthen connectivity in border areas.He also pointed to EAP-backed interventions in urban infrastructure, water supply improvement and public resource management.In agriculture, he said the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported FOCUS project improved rural livelihoods, benefiting around 55,000 households and raising incomes by about 43%, while also contributing to environmental conservation.In health, Lalduhoma said the World Bank-assisted Health System Strengthening Project enabled 62 Govt health facilities and hospitals in Mizoram to secure National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification. He said the state had no NQAS-certified health facility or hospital before the project.He also cited the ongoing construction of a Super Speciality Cancer Centre with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assistance, implementation of the Universal Health Care Scheme supported by ADB funding and revival of the 24-MW Tuirini Hydroelectric Project backed by the New Development Bank (NDB), as part of efforts towards energy self-sufficiency.Stressing the importance of EAPs in building quality infrastructure and accelerating development, Lalduhoma said Mizoram needs access to more such projects and appealed for enhancement of the EAP ceiling for North Eastern States to enable more development initiatives.During the inaugural session, DEA secretary Anuradha Thakur delivered the welcome address and Sitharaman delivered the keynote address. The session was also addressed by Johannes Zutt, vice president, South Asia Region, World Bank Group, along with the chief ministers of NE states.
