Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Infrastructure and Investment Update
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) provided a comprehensive update on infrastructure development and investment initiatives in the North Eastern Region (NER) under India's Act East Policy. The policy positions NER as the central hub for India's engagement with Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on developing cross-border connectivity infrastructure.
Two flagship projects under this framework include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. The Kaladan project consists of a waterway component, which was completed and inaugurated in May 2023, and a road component comprising a 109 km two-lane highway from Paletwa, Myanmar to Zorinpui, Mizoram. The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has seen significant progress with the Tamu-Kalewa Highway construction completed and handed over to the Government of Myanmar in 2009, and the Kalewa-Yargi highway section (km 112 to km 60) completed and handed over to the Myanmar government in October 2025.
In 2025, a High-level Task Force (HLTF) was constituted on the North East Economic Corridor (NEEC) with a mandate to assess the existing economic, infrastructure, and investment ecosystem in NER. The task force identified critical gaps in physical connectivity, trade facilitation, and sectoral investments, and formulated strategies to attract public and private sector investments. The HLTF report was presented at the 73rd Plenary of the North East Council in June 2026.
MDoNER organized the Rising Northeast Investors Summit in May 2025 to catalyze trade and investment in NER. The summit focused on nine key sectors for investment attraction: Tourism and Hospitality; Agro-Food Processing & allied sectors; Textiles, Handloom and Handicrafts; Healthcare; Education and Skill Development; IT/ITeS; Entertainment & Sports; Infrastructure and Logistics; and Energy. Through the summit and its pre-event roadshows, the initiative garnered investment interests totaling ₹4.48 lakh crore through Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), letters of intent, and qualified leads from private investors, public sector undertakings, and major industrial conglomerates.
The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector and entrepreneurship development in NER by providing financial support for industrial, infrastructure, agri-allied projects, government schemes, and institutional support. NEDFi also supports the startup ecosystem of NER through the North East Venture Fund.
This information was formally presented by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2026.