AGARTALA, March 26 (TIWN): With Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the “Startup India” initiative in January, the eight north-eastern states are set to become the destination of startup ventures in the country, union Minister of State for Development of the Northeastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said here on Saturday. “The northeast will be developed into a key destination for young entrepreneurs and startups,” the minister said while inaugurating 'Tripura Journalist Union State meet' at Agartala Press Club. Stating that his ministry now has a venture fund, Singh said: “Any youth who goes to the northeast will have the support of the venture fund.” As for connectivity, he said that the introduction of a direct flight from Delhi to Dimapur in Nagaland was a major step in making the northeast more accessible. “The rest of India needs to be connected with the northeast in a meaningful way,” he added. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking keen interest in the development of the northeast. He also emphasised upon the need to upgrade academic institutions in the region to provide quality education and develop human resources.

According to Singh, it is the rest of India that needs to be brought to the northeast and not the other way around.

“The northeast has many attributes that we do not have,” he said.  Referring to the security situation that has long been a deterrent for development in the region, the DoNER minister sadi: "Peace and development have a reciprocal relationship but you can't wait for the last gun to fall silent." 

He also said that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has spoken to Modi about forming a consortium of companies to invest in the northeast in sectors like roads and power transmission. 

DoNER Ministry's active involvement for Tripura's development can be seen with the recent inauguration of India's 3rd Internet Gateway at Agartala.