Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, today inaugurated the Conference on “Leveraging Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) in the North-Eastern States” in Shillong, emphasizing the critical role of strong institutions, implementation capacity and collaborative partnerships in unlocking the region’s immense development potential.
The two-day conference, organised by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, has brought together policymakers, state governments, multilateral development banks, bilateral agencies and development practitioners to deliberate on strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of externally aided projects and accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth across the Northeast.
The inaugural session was attended by Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya; Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam; Shri Lalduhoma, Chief Minister of Mizoram; Dr. Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland; Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister of Sikkim; and Dr. Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura, along with senior officials from the Government of India, representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), New Development Bank (NDB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), NITI Aayog and other development institutions.
Smt. Sitharaman noted that Externally Aided Projects have emerged as an important source of development financing for the North-Eastern States, supporting investments in infrastructure, connectivity, livelihoods and social-sector development. She said the conference provides a valuable platform for the Centre and the Northeastern States to strengthen planning and implementation of such projects through greater coordination, faster execution and the sharing of best practices, thereby channelling development finance towards critical priorities and accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth across the region.
Delivering the keynote address, the Finance Minister said that the Northeast is entering a decisive phase of development where stronger institutions, implementation capacity and partnerships are as important as investments. She noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Northeast has moved from the margins to the mainstream of India’s development agenda and will be central to the realization of the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Finance Minister outlined eight key enablers that will shape the next phase of development in the region.
She emphasized the importance of leadership, noting that alignment between the Centre and the States accelerates development outcomes and strengthens public confidence. She also stressed the need to strengthen institutional capacity for effective planning, implementation, monitoring and service delivery.
Highlighting the Northeast’s demographic strengths, Smt. Sitharaman described the region’s youth, entrepreneurial energy and women leaders as key drivers of growth. She called for greater investments in human capital and reiterated the Government’s commitment to promoting women-led development as a cornerstone of inclusive progress.
On development finance, the Minister urged states to leverage multilateral and bilateral financing not only as a source of funding but also as a means of accessing global expertise, innovation and best practices. She encouraged states to make strategic use of externally aided projects to strengthen governance systems and improve service delivery.
Smt. Sitharaman also pointed to the vast opportunities for private investment in sectors such as tourism, logistics, agribusiness, food processing, renewable energy, digital services, manufacturing and the orange economy. Such investments, she said, can generate employment, enhance value addition and create sustainable livelihoods across the region.
The Minister highlighted the transformative impact of ongoing investments in connectivity, noting that improvements in transport infrastructure, digital networks and power systems are linking people, markets and opportunities while reinforcing India’s Act East Policy.
Describing the Northeast’s rich ecological and cultural heritage as a strategic advantage, she said the region can emerge as a leader in eco-tourism, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and green development.
Underscoring the importance of partnership and cooperation, Smt. Sitharaman stressed that lasting progress will require close collaboration among governments, communities, investors, academia, civil society organisations and development institutions.
The Finance Minister emphasized that no district and no community should be left behind in the development journey and urged stakeholders to focus on building enduring institutions and systems that continue to deliver benefits long after projects are completed. She noted that development finance should be deployed strategically to improve the lives of citizens and create sustainable opportunities for future generations.
The conference featured technical sessions on the evolving ecosystem of externally aided projects in India and the Northeast, with presentations by the Department of Economic Affairs, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and NITI Aayog. Participants also shared experiences from the implementation of externally aided projects across Northeastern states and deliberated on ways to improve project preparation, execution and monitoring.
A dedicated session on “Best Practices and Lessons from Past Interventions” showcased successful projects from across the region, including the Tripura Urban, Tourism and Industry Projects, Assam Secondary Roads Improvement Project, Manipur Integrated Water Supply Project and Mizoram FOCUS 2.0 initiative. The discussions highlighted innovative approaches to project implementation, community participation, climate resilience and sustainable development.
On the second day, participants will deliberate on practical solutions to common implementation challenges and examine successful interventions such as the Meghalaya Community and Landscape Management Project, Assam State Tertiary Healthcare Augmentation Project and Nagaland Forest Management Project.
“The future of the Northeast is not a story waiting to be written; it is a story that is already unfolding,” the Finance Minister said.
Calling for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders, Smt. Sitharaman urged participants to transform potential into prosperity, connectivity into opportunity, investment into livelihoods and partnerships into lasting growth, ensuring that the benefits of development reach every corner of the Northeast.
