Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, unveiled a clutch of initiatives to deepen the state's startup and investment ecosystem, including the Arunachal Creative Economy (ACE) programme and a new expert think tank — the Institute for Transforming Arunachal (ITA) — which he described as a 'mini NITI Aayog' for the state. The announcements were made in Itanagar at a ceremony marking the graduation of the fourth cohort and the commencement of the fifth cohort of the Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Development Programme (APEDP).

What the New Initiatives Cover

The ACE programme, being developed through the Chief Minister's Office, is designed to give young people with creative ideas a structured platform to convert them into viable businesses. The ITA will pool subject experts to guide state policymaking across sectors such as agriculture, allied activities, and tourism. Khandu added that he is in active contact with venture capitalists and plans to organise a dedicated conference where Arunachal-based startups can pitch to potential investors.

Officials were directed to consult the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on possible incentives for startups transitioning into private limited companies or limited liability partnerships — a signal that formalisation of the startup base is now a policy priority.

APEDP Milestones and Expanded Support

Launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, APEDP has supported the creation of more than 150 startups to date. The programme's intake has been doubled from 50 to 100 startups per cohort. Seed funding has also been scaled up — from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh and from ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh under different categories. The fifth cohort will undergo nine months of incubation, with mentorship from institutions including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

Khandu also inaugurated satellite incubation cells across seven higher education institutions — Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh University, Arunachal University of Studies, NIT Jote, NEDIS Nirjuli, Dera Natung Government College, and Dorjee Khandu Government College — and witnessed the signing of MoUs with five additional institutions to expand the incubation network statewide.

Investment Pipeline and Digital Push

Highlighting Arunachal's investment potential, Khandu noted that hydropower projects totalling 19,000 MW are at various stages of development. Under the Rising North East Investment Summit, investments worth ₹809 crore have already been grounded, while proposed investments worth ₹7,941 crore are under active pursuit.

The Chief Minister also launched the YES (Youth Empowerment Sphere) Arunachal portal, a single-window platform aggregating information on both Central and state government schemes. Officials were directed to organise workshops for APEDP alumni on accessing national and international markets through digital platforms. The Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park (APIIP) was directed to expedite its conversion into a Section 8 company to sharpen its institutional mandate.

Women's Role and the Road to Viksit Arunachal 2047

Khandu drew attention to the contribution of women-led self-help groups — involving around 1.5 lakh active women — in strengthening the rural economy. He urged young entrepreneurs to sharpen their businesses through professional accounting, digital marketing, and value addition to the state's 20 Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products. Local communities were also urged to extend support to incoming investors, as the administration works toward the vision of Viksit Arunachal by 2047.

This comes amid a broader push across North East states to leverage central schemes and attract private capital into a region historically dependent on government employment. The next milestones to watch are the investor conference Khandu has promised, the DPIIT consultation on startup incentives, and APIIP's transition to a Section 8 entity.