Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), on Friday made major announcements for India’s north-eastern states, with plans to double the company’s investments to a massive Rs 75,000-crore over the next five years. Speaking at the Rising North East Investors Summit, Ambani outlined six strategic commitments aimed at transforming the region’s digital, agricultural, healthcare, renewable energy, and sporting landscape. For Reliance, it is a matter of privilege to fulfil the dreams of a region that has the fastest rate of economic growth with the youngest population in India, he said. “Today, I make six commitments to the Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura,” Ambani declared, positioning the North East at the heart of Reliance’s next phase of growth and impact. Doubling Investments: Rs 75,000 Crore Pledge First, Reliance has invested around Rs 30,000 crore in the region in the past 40 years. In the next five years, we will more than double our investments, with our target at Rs 75,000 crore. “In addition to creating over 2.5 million direct or indirect employment opportunities, we aspire to touch the lives of most of our 45 million sisters and brothers of the North East,” Ambani said. Digital Expansion & AI for All Second, Jio has already covered over 90 per cent of the population with over 5 million 5G subscribers. We will double this number this year. Jio’s priority will be to bring revolutionary power of AI to all schools, hospitals, enterprise, and homes. “When talent meets tech and competence meets connectivity, our North East will surge ahead,” he added. Boosting Farmers’ Income & Local Industry Third, Reliance Retail will vastly increase its procurements of stables, fruits and vegetables, to boost the income of farmers. “We will also invest in factories for high-quality FMCG products in the region and promote the region’s fabulous artisans economy,” the RIL CMD said. Green Energy Push with Biogas Plants Fourth, we will greatly enhance generation of solar power in the region. Our PM often speaks of converting waster to wealth. “In line with this, we will convert the region’s vast wasteland and wealthland by setting up 350 integrated compressed biogas plants,” Ambani stated. Cancer Care & Genomic Research Fifth, Reliance Foundation will bring the best of cancer care to the North East. To begin with, we have established a 150-bed comprehensive cancer hospital in Manipur. We are collaborating with the Mizoram University on care of breast cancer using genomic data. In Guwahati, we have built an advanced molecular diagnostic and research lab. It will be among the largest genome sequencing capacities in India. “We will help tranform the North East into a healthcare hub and research powerhouse,” the chairman of Reliance Industries said. Olympic Centres for North East’s Sporting Talent Sixth, the North East is a treasure house of world-class talent in multi sports. “Reliance Foundation will work with all the eight states to set up Olympic training centres which will prepare our youth to be tomorrow’s medal winners in Olympics,” he added. “Most respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, you have achieved something unbelievable and unimaginable. You have brought the North East from the periphery to the centre of India’s developmental map from the margins to the mainstream of the India story. Under your guidance, we in industry will work with all chief ministers to make the North East an inspiring model to demonstrate to the rest of the world how we can make progress, how development can take care Dharti Maa, how Lakshmi Mata can reach every home, and how Bharat Mata indeed embraces all her children with her boundless love,” Ambani said. The Rising North-East Investors’ Summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the two-day Rising North East Investors Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. According to an official statement, this summit is being organised with an aim to highlight the northeastern region as a land of opportunity, attracting global and domestic investment, and bringing together key stakeholders, investors, and policymakers on a single platform. The Rising North East Investors Summit, a two-day event from May 23-24, is the culmination of various pre-summit activities, such as a series of roadshows, and states’ roundtables, including the Ambassador’s Meet and Bilateral Chambers Meet. It has been organised by the central government with active support from the state governments of the North Eastern Region. The Summit will include ministerial sessions, Business-to-Government sessions, Business-to-Business meetings, startups, and exhibitions of policy and related initiatives taken by State Governments and central ministries for investment promotion. The main focus sectors of investment promotion include Tourism and Hospitality, Agro-Food Processing and allied sectors, textiles, Handloom, and Handicrafts, healthcare, education and Skill Development, Information Technology or Information Technology-Enabled Services, infrastructure and Logistics, energy, and Entertainment and Sports. A strategic location that offers easy access to ASEAN markets, the Northeast Region, India’s growth engine, is endowed with abundant natural resources such as oil, gas, coal, minerals, timber, medicinal plants, bamboo, forest products, and water resources for industries to harness. Northeast India provides direct access to ASEAN markets, positioning it as a vital trade hub. Considered India’s Green Hub, the region is home to verdant forests and rich biodiversity, and is an ideal destination for eco tourism and agro-based industries. The region’s GSDP at current prices is Rs 9.26 lakh crore in 2023-24. GSDP of NER states grew at CAGR of 10.8 per cent, from 2014-15 to 2021-22 (against national average of 8.1 per cent). Network18 and TV18 – the companies that operate news18.com – are controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.