Assam CM Discusses Development Plans for Northeast at Shillong Conference
Key Insights from the Shillong Conference
Assam CM addressing LEAPGDNS Seminar in Shillong on Friday (Photo: @CMOfficeAssam/X)
Shillong, June 20: During a recent seminar in Shillong, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Assam and other states in the Northeast will initiate new development projects once the 16th Finance Commission reveals the funding allocations for the upcoming five years.
While attending a conference focused on externally aided projects (EAPs), Sarma mentioned that discussions with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revolved around the availability of funds and the prioritization of projects by the states.
“The recommendations from the Finance Commission will dictate the funding amounts. Following that, Assam and other states will determine which projects to prioritize,” Sarma explained.
The 15th Finance Commission's term concluded on March 31, and the recommendations from the 16th Finance Commission will span from April 1, 2026, to 2031. The central government has yet to disclose the allocations for each state.
Sarma indicated that officials from the Northeastern states would engage in further discussions with the Department of Economic Affairs and development partners regarding project planning and execution.
“This initiative by the Union Finance Minister is crucial. Our officials will collaborate with the Economic Affairs department and development partners on these matters,” he stated, adding that Sitharaman is anticipated to return with announcements regarding funding allocations for the next five-year period.
The Chief Minister emphasized the significance of externally aided projects in the region's growth, noting that support from international agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency has greatly aided Northeastern states in implementing major development initiatives.
In her opening remarks at the two-day conference titled “Leveraging Externally Aided Projects in the North-Eastern States,” Sitharaman remarked that the Northeast has transitioned “from the margins to the mainstream” of India's development strategy and will be pivotal in realizing the vision of a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047.
“The narrative of the Northeast is not one waiting to be told; it is a narrative that is actively unfolding,” she asserted.
The Finance Minister highlighted EAPs as a vital source of development funding for the region, facilitating investments in infrastructure, connectivity, livelihoods, and social sector advancements. She expressed that the conference would enhance coordination between the central government and Northeastern states in the planning and execution of such projects.
Sitharaman outlined eight priority areas to boost growth in the region: cooperation between the Centre and states, private sector investment, women-led development, human capital enhancement, infrastructure and connectivity, partnerships and collaboration, institutional capacity building, and development finance.
She called for ongoing collaboration among governments and development partners, urging stakeholders to transform “potential into prosperity, connectivity into opportunities, investments into livelihoods, and partnerships into sustainable growth” throughout the Northeast.
The conference, organized by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, gathered policymakers, state officials, multilateral development banks, and bilateral agencies.
The inaugural session saw participation from Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.