Northeast holds key to India’s next growth engine: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Northeast has the potential to become India’s next growth engine by leveraging its strengths in sustainable agriculture, organic farming and premium-quality produce.Addressing the inauguration of the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing plant of the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company Ltd in Meghalaya, Sitharaman said the region can drive economic growth by focusing on quality, traceability and global trust."The future of agriculture increasingly belongs not to those who produce the most, but to those who produce the best -- cleaner, more traceable, more trusted and more premium," she said.

Smt @nsitharaman addressed the gathering during the inauguration ceremony of the North East’s largest Organic Spice Processing Unit at Bhoirymbong, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya.

Shri Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) - Hon'ble CM of Meghalaya, Shri Prem Singh Tamang Golay (@PSTamangGolay) -… https://t.co/VauC9tKfnI pic.twitter.com/GPpEm1Eggb

— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) June 19, 2026

The Finance Minister said Meghalaya is uniquely positioned to lead the region’s organic farming movement due to the trust its products command in global markets."When Meghalaya's farmers rise, the Northeast rises. And when the Northeast rises, India's growth acquires a new engine," Sitharaman said, while congratulating the state government, women collectives and entrepreneurs for promoting organic agriculture.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s competitive advantage, she said the state does not need to compete with larger agricultural states in terms of production volumes, as the future belongs to trusted producers offering high-quality products."The world is entering an age where trust commands a premium, and Meghalaya is uniquely positioned for this future because it possesses trust that is rooted in nature, community and generations of ecological knowledge," she said.

Bhoirymbong, Meghalaya: On the Inauguration of Northeast India's Largest Organic Spice Processing Unit, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "The future of agriculture increasingly belongs to those who produce not merely more but better, cleaner, safer, more traceable… pic.twitter.com/gAOMHD5u2x

— IANS (@ians_india) June 19, 2026

Sitharaman emphasised that Meghalaya’s growing spice economy shows that economic development and environmental conservation can progress together."We have to live, cohabit with nature," she said, stressing the importance of sustainable growth.
Referring to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, the Finance Minister said every region and community must contribute to the country’s growth journey."India's ambition for 2047 -- a Viksit Bharat -- requires the productive integration of every community, every region and every state into the national growth story, and the Northeast is central to this," she said.Recalling Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s remarks on ensuring balanced development, Sitharaman said she wanted the Northeast to move beyond catching up with other regions and emerge as a leader in India’s growth story."I heard the chief minister say that we want all states to develop and that the Northeast should not be left behind. I want the country to say that the Northeast will lead all of India," she said.The Finance Minister also highlighted the potential of women farmers, entrepreneurs and cooperatives in building global brands from Meghalaya’s organic produce. She envisioned local farmers using traditional knowledge, modern processing facilities and international market access to create sustainable livelihoods while staying connected to their roots.