Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd, announced on Friday that the company will invest Rs 75,000 crore in the North-Eastern states of India. This investment will fund the development of 350 biogas plants, the expansion of telecom services, retail presence, and clean energy initiatives. Speaking at the Rising NorthEast Investors Summit, Mr Ambani outlined plans to establish factories producing high-quality FMCG products in the region and to set up a 150-bed cancer hospital in Manipur.
“Reliance has already invested Rs 30,000 crore in the North-East over the past 40 years. In the next five years, we plan to more than double this figure, targeting Rs 75,000 crore,” Mr Ambani said. The investment is expected to generate over 2.5 million direct and indirect job opportunities, reaching the region’s 45 million residents.
Mr Ambani further shared that Reliance will make six major commitments to the Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Reliance’s telecom arm, Jio, has already connected 90% of the population and serves over 5 million 5G subscribers. Mr Ambani revealed, “We aim to double this number within the year.” Jio’s focus will also be on bringing the benefits of Artificial Intelligence to schools, hospitals, businesses, and homes across the region.
He emphasized the importance of combining talent with technology and connectivity to drive growth in the North-East. Reliance Retail will significantly increase its procurement of local produce, including staples, fruits, and vegetables, to support farmers’ incomes. The company also plans to establish factories for premium FMCG products and promote the region’s artisan economy.
In clean energy, Reliance will focus on significantly enhancing solar power generation in the region, although specific details were not disclosed. As part of its vision of transforming waste into wealth, Reliance will develop 350 integrated compressed biogas plants. These facilities will convert organic waste into gas for transportation and cooking, contributing to sustainable development in the region.
Reliance Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, will improve healthcare access in the North-East. A 150-bed cancer hospital has already been established in Manipur. Additionally, Reliance is collaborating with Mizoram University on breast cancer care using genomic data. An Advanced Molecular Diagnostics and Research Lab has also been set up in Guwahati, which will become one of India’s largest genome sequencing centers. Mr Ambani committed to transforming the North-East into a hub for healthcare and research. Recognizing the region’s potential in sports, Mr Ambani stated that Reliance Foundation would collaborate with the eight states to establish Olympic Training Centers, helping youth from the North-East excel in global competitions.
Mr Ambani expressed pride in the opportunity to contribute to the growth of a region with India’s fastest-growing economy and youngest population. Mr Ambani also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the North-East to the forefront of India’s development agenda. “Under your leadership, the North-East has moved from the periphery to the center of India’s progress,” Mr Ambani said, adding that industry leaders would work closely with state governments to make the region a global model of growth, sustainability, and inclusivity.
