Northeast will become India’s new ‘growth engine’: Country’s largest organic spice unit opened in Meghalaya

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has put forward a very far-sighted and big vision for the development of North-East India. During a historic program in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, the Finance Minister said that the North-Eastern region has the unique potential to become India’s next biggest growth engine on the strength of its pristine natural wealth, sustainable agriculture and premium organic products. He laid special emphasis on the fact that eco-friendly farming in the North-East has taught us to co-exist in harmony with nature. Today, due to the unwavering confidence in the pure products of Meghalaya in the global markets, the state stands in a unique and strong position to lead the agricultural scenario of the country in the times to come. Grand inauguration of Northeast India’s largest organic spice processing unit. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was on a visit to Ri-Bhoi district, on Friday officially inaugurated Northeast India’s largest state-of-the-art Organic Spice Processing Unit. Addressing the entrepreneurs and farmers on this occasion, he made a very important point that the real future of agriculture is now safe in the hands of those who are focusing on producing agricultural products not only ‘more’ in quantity but ‘better, cleaner, safer, more traceable and more sustainable’ in quality. He congratulated the Meghalaya government, local women self-help groups and progressive entrepreneurs for making the organic farming movement a mass movement in the state. The Finance Minister gave a very inspiring slogan in his address and said- "When the farmers of Meghalaya move forward on the path of progress, the entire Northeast moves forward; And when the Northeast develops, India’s overall economic growth gets a new and powerful engine."

The role of North-East will be most central in the resolution of ‘Developed India 2047’. During his address, the Finance Minister also prominently mentioned the great vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a superpower and ‘developed nation’ by the year 2047. He clearly stated that in this national ambition to make the country prosperous, there is a strong need to productively integrate every community, every region and every state into the mainstream development story, and our North Eastern region plays the most central role in this entire vision. Analyzing the changing trend of the global market, he said that today the whole world is entering a modern era where the purity and ‘trust’ of products get the highest premium and attention. Meghalaya’s traditional ecological knowledge linked to nature and community through generations will give it a huge brand value internationally. Finance Minister said on the statement of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma – The country will say that the North-East will lead the whole of India. During the program, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Recalling Sangma’s views, the Finance Minister made a very positive and encouraging comment. He said that Chief Minister Sangma is often heard saying that he wants all the states of the country to develop and the North-East should not be left behind in this race. To this, the Finance Minister responded with great vision and said that she does not just want the North-East to move in coordination with the rest of the country, but she also wants the entire country to say in one voice that the North-East region is leading the development of entire India on its own.