Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the Valedictory Session of the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026 in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, underscoring the region's growing role in India's national development story.

Context

Speaking at the summit's closing session, Shekhawat framed infrastructure not as a construction exercise but as a force multiplier for communities and commerce. 'Infrastructure is not merely about building assets; it is about creating opportunities, connecting communities, empowering enterprises and improving lives,' he said. He credited the transformation of the Northeast to the 'visionary leadership' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India's sustained policy focus on the region.

The minister described the North East as now emerging as a 'vibrant hub of connectivity, commerce, tourism and innovation,' positioning it as an increasingly important contributor to India's broader growth trajectory.

Policy Backdrop

The remarks come against a long arc of Central government investment in the eight-state northeastern region, which was historically viewed as geographically and economically peripheral. The rebranding of the Look East Policy to the Act East Policy in 2014 marked a strategic pivot, routing ASEAN connectivity ambitions through Northeast infrastructure corridors linking India to Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Flagship programmes including Bharatmala Pariyojana (launched 2015) and the PM-DevINE scheme (launched 2022) earmarked dedicated funding for highways, bridges and tourism assets across the region. Roads, rail links and new airport expansions have been the primary delivery vehicles, with tourism and services now framed as the next growth layer once physical connectivity matures.

Stakeholders and Impact

The summit in Shillong — the capital of Meghalaya — brought together stakeholders from across the northeastern states, including local traders, tourism enterprises and community representatives who stand to benefit most directly from improved connectivity. For Shekhawat, whose ministerial remit spans culture and tourism, the summit offered a platform to link infrastructure investment directly to tourism potential, a sector the government has consistently highlighted as a driver of local employment and income.

North Eastern communities have historically faced higher logistics costs and limited market access due to difficult terrain and inadequate road and rail networks. Improved connectivity is expected to reduce those barriers and open new channels for commerce and enterprise.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to 2026-27 budget outlays for ongoing Northeast corridor projects and to state-level tourism arrival data as new airports and highways become operational. Parliamentary scrutiny of expenditure timelines and project completion rates will be a key indicator of whether the summit's ambitions translate into on-ground outcomes. The minister's address signals that the Centre intends to keep the Northeast's development narrative prominent in its political and policy communications ahead of the coming legislative cycle.