NEIINFRA 2026 Curtain Raiser Held in New Delhi, Spotlight on Meghalaya’s Rapid Growth and Northeast’s Investment Potential
New Delhi: The Government of Meghalaya on Friday hosted the curtain raiser for the upcoming North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (NEIINFRA) 2026 at Meghalaya House in New Delhi, placing strong national focus on Meghalaya’s rapid economic progress, expanding infrastructure landscape, and the Northeast’s growing role in India’s development journey.
The event was attended by Conrad K. Sangma as the chief guest, while Sanjay Jaju graced the occasion as guest of honour. Several dignitaries were also present, including Avinash Joshi, Sanjay Goyal, and Bajrang Lohia.
Scheduled to be held in Shillong on June 11 and 12, 2026, the summit is expected to bring together five Union Ministers, all Chief Ministers from the Northeast, policymakers, investors, infrastructure developers, financial institutions, and industry leaders to deliberate on connectivity, investment, and regional development.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma highlighted Meghalaya’s remarkable economic performance, stating that the state’s economy has doubled over the last five years, while capital investment has increased fourfold compared to 2018.
He described Meghalaya as “one of the fastest-growing economies in the country,” emphasizing that the state has maintained a stable growth trajectory for the last three to four years, significantly strengthening investor confidence.
Referring to the Meghalaya Industrial Promotion Policy, he said the government is offering substantial incentives to investors and has built one of the strongest entrepreneurial ecosystems among India’s smaller states.
The Chief Minister also spoke about Meghalaya’s emerging IT sector, revealing that the state’s first IT park is fully occupied, while the second IT park has already received overwhelming interest from both national and international industries. He said the government is now working to further expand IT infrastructure to create new opportunities for youth.
DoNER Secretary Sanjay Jaju praised Meghalaya’s accelerated growth journey, noting that the Centre continues to strongly support infrastructure-led development and regional integration across the Northeast.
He described the Northeast as “Ashtalakshmi”, saying the region lies at the heart of India’s long-term growth vision. He also noted that Meghalaya’s growth rate has touched 13–14 percent, making it one of India’s fastest-growing states.
Significantly, Meghalaya is the only Indian state to have recorded nearly 10 percent real GSDP growth for three consecutive years after the pandemic. The state’s economy has grown from ₹29,508 crore in 2018 to nearly ₹60,000 crore in 2024–25, with a target of reaching ₹1.35 lakh crore by 2032.
The event also highlighted Meghalaya’s growing recognition in tourism, sports, and the creative economy. The state’s iconic Living Root Bridges are India’s sole nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List 2026, while Shillong continues to strengthen its identity as the country’s “Music Capital.”
Meghalaya is also set to host the 39th National Games in 2027, further cementing its stature on the national stage.
Union Ministers expected to participate in the summit include Nitin Gadkari, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Avinash Joshi said the summit would create “immense opportunities” for all stakeholders and highlighted the Centre’s support for the region through mega food parks, MSME food processing units, infrastructure expansion, startups, and incubation initiatives.
Sanjay Goyal stated that the strong participation in the curtain raiser reflects growing national interest in the Northeast and underlined that under Conrad K. Sangma’s leadership, Meghalaya has emerged as one of India’s most investment-friendly states.
Bajrang Lohia noted that bringing all eight Northeastern states together on one platform reflects visionary leadership and positions the region as India’s next major infrastructure and investment hub.
Organised jointly by FINER and Build India Foundation, with support from various Union ministries and sectoral partners, NEIINFRA 2026 is being viewed as a landmark platform to showcase the Northeast’s vast infrastructure and investment potential.