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North East's Budding Entrepreneurship

Landscape

The North Eastern Region (NER) of the
country might be one of the lesser developed
regions of India, but it possesses huge
potential in several industries and trade
sectors. Although the NER is primarily
agrarian, it has considerable manufacturing
potential, primarily for two reasons - firstly,
the location of the region, connecting India to
the Southeast Asian markets, makes the NER
an attractive manufacturing hub. Secondly,
the region has rich social capital, cheap Bhaskar Jyoti Saud
Assistant Professor, EDII
labour and plenty of natural resources.

The government is also encouraging growth in the NER. The Government of India initiated
the Act -East Policy to promote economic cooperation, enhance connectivity and cultural
ties, and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through
continuous engagement at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. PM-DEVINE, North
East Venture Fund, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-eastern Region,
and Agri-Clinic & Agri-Business Centres Scheme are some of the notable initiatives of the
Government in accelerating the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.

As per the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), there are over
3865 registered start-ups from Northeast of India. The number of start-ups in the Northeast
has grown significantly, under the Start-up India initiative as of 2024. Assam leads with
highest numbers of start-ups, followed by Meghalaya and Manipur. These ventures cover
diverse sectors, including agriculture, tourism, e-commerce and IT services.

With its diverse culture, rich natural resources and strategic geographical location
bordering several countries, the Northeast presents a unique landscape for entrepreneurs
eager to innovate and contribute to economic growth. This article explores various sectors
ripe for entrepreneurial ventures in this vibrant region:

Agri and Agro-Based Industries

The agricultural sector in Northeast India holds immense potential due to its fertile land and
favourable climate conditions. Entrepreneurs can explore opportunities in organic farming,
high-value crops like medicinal plants, spices, fruits (such as pineapples from Meghalaya
and Tripura, oranges from Nagaland, Jackfruits from Assam and Manipur), sustainable
farming practices, processed agricultural products, aquaculture and allied sectors.

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