The North-Eastern Region (NER) encompasses a group of eight states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. This region is of immense strategic importance for India as it serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia, with each state sharing a border with at least one Southeast Asian nation.

Besides being a melting pot of cultures, the NER is also a global biodiversity hotspot, making it an attractive destination for tourists.

Although the NER covers only 7.98% of India’s total geographical the region only accounts for 3.78% of the total population. Over 54% of the region’s population, particularly in hilly areas, belong to tribal communities and 2011 census, the NER is home to approximately 135 Scheduled Tribe groups out of a total of around 705 in India.

Furthermore, the region has abundant natural resources that are yet to be fully explored, which is why it is rapidly emerging as a hub for sustainable manufacturing and service industries.

The northeast region boasts abundant natural resources, agro-horticultural and forest resources, hydroelectric potential, oil and natural gas, and several mineral deposits, making it well-positioned for industrial growth and expansion.

The primary industries in the NER’s industrial sector include agriculture, food processing, and mineral extraction, with notable businesses in bamboo, natural gas and oil, plastic, coal, silk, jute, tea, and petroleum sectors.

In recent years, significant investments have been pouring into sectors like food processing, pharmaceuticals, tourism and hospitality, cement, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, laying the foundation for the NER’s overall development.