Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman today participated in the celebration of Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) in Meghalaya and laid the foundation stones for projects worth over ₹1,250 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity, human capital development, tourism, livelihoods and sustainable economic growth across the State.

Addressing the gathering at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong, the Finance Minister said there could be no more fitting venue to discuss Meghalaya’s future than an auditorium named after the celebrated Khasi poet U Soso Tham, whose writings reflected the beauty, culture and spirit of the hills. She observed that the natural beauty and diversity celebrated by the poet remain Meghalaya’s greatest treasure and a source of immense economic potential.

Highlighting the broader development prospects of the Northeast, Smt. Sitharaman said the region is blessed with breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural resources, diverse agricultural produce and hardworking people. She noted that the challenge before policymakers is not a lack of potential, but ensuring that this potential is translated into prosperity for local communities.

Drawing attention to the region’s unique agricultural wealth, the Finance Minister cited examples from across the Northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh’s oranges and kiwis, Assam’s litchi and ginger, Manipur’s Chak-Hao (black rice) and Kachai lemon, Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric, Memang Narang, Khasi mandarin and ginger, Mizoram's Mizo chilli, Nagaland’s tree tomatoes and sweet cucumbers, Sikkim’s large cardamom, orchids and organic produce, and Tripura’s renowned queen pineapple. She noted that many of these products possess global appeal but require improved market access, logistics and value-addition to realise their full economic potential.

Smt. Sitharaman stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has placed connectivity, infrastructure development and sustained engagement with the Northeast at the heart of its development strategy. She noted that the Prime Minister has visited the region more than 75 times since 2014, while Union Ministers have collectively undertaken over 700 visits, reflecting a governance approach that prioritises direct engagement with the people of the Northeast.

The Finance Minister highlighted significant improvements in regional infrastructure over the last decade. She stated that more than 10,000 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed across the Northeast since 2014 at an investment exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, while another 5,000 kilometres of highway projects are under implementation. She further noted that the number of operational airports in the region has increased from nine in 2014 to sixteen today, with aircraft movements nearly doubling and domestic passenger traffic increasing more than three-fold during the period.

Stressing the importance of Externally Aided Projects, Smt. Sitharaman said that EAPs complement major infrastructure investments by addressing specific local socio-economic needs. Beyond financing, she said, these projects bring access to global knowledge, international best practices, innovative technologies and successful development models from institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and JICA.

Referring to the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing facility inaugurated earlier in the day at Bhoirymbong, Ri-Bhoi district, she said the project exemplifies how local produce can be processed locally, enabling farmers to capture greater value while connecting traditional agricultural strengths with modern domestic and global markets. Such interventions, she observed, represent the ideal model of development where local resources, community participation and global expertise converge to create sustainable economic opportunities.

The Finance Minister emphasised that Externally Aided Projects are not merely financing arrangements but instruments for converting natural potential into economic opportunity. They help integrate local produce into national and global value chains, strengthen livelihoods, improve service delivery and transform difficult terrain into corridors of economic growth.

Among the projects whose foundation stones were laid were the Meghalaya Logistics and Connectivity Improvement Project (₹957.46 crore), the Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya, Phase – II (₹59.29 crore), the Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development Project (₹138.39 crore) and the Meghalaya Ecotourism Infrastructure Development Project (₹91.60 crore). These projects aim to improve connectivity, strengthen school infrastructure, promote sustainable tourism, enhance climate-resilient livelihoods and create long-term economic opportunities for local communities.

Highlighting the growing importance of the Northeast in India’s development trajectory, Smt. Sitharaman noted that EAP support to Northeastern States under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has risen dramatically from approximately ₹9,000 crore during 2004–2014 to around ₹76,000 crore since 2014, representing more than a seven-fold increase. She said this reflects a fundamental shift in approach, where the Northeast is now viewed not as a peripheral region but as a central pillar of India’s future growth, connectivity and prosperity.

The Finance Minister also underscored the need for stronger project implementation mechanisms, improved project management capacities, enhanced private sector participation in tourism and logistics, better last-mile and digital connectivity, and greater convergence among developmental programmes to maximise benefits for communities.

Invoking the ideals of U Soso Tham, Smt. Sitharaman said the Northeast’s future lies in combining tradition with innovation, conservation with development, and cultural heritage with entrepreneurship. She added that a developed India by 2047 cannot be achieved without a developed, connected and prosperous Northeast.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma said Meghalaya is presently implementing over ₹12,466 crore worth of Externally Aided Projects across multiple sectors and acknowledged the continued support of the Government of India and the Ministry of Finance in enabling transformative investments across the State.

The programme was also attended by Meghalaya Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department Shri Sanbor Shullai, Minister for Education Shri Lahkmen Rymbui, Minister for Tourism Shri Timothy D. Shira and senior officials of the Government of India and Government of Meghalaya, development partners, beneficiaries and other stakeholders associated with externally aided projects.

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