Minister of State Kriti Vardhan Singh said the Union Budget will boost employment, tourism and rural growth in Nagaland.
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KOHIMA — Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs Kriti Vardhan Singh on Monday said that the Union Budget has a clear long-term focus on youth empowerment, employment generation and strengthening India’s strategic global partnerships.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP head office in Kohima, in the presence of Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along, Advisor Kropol Vitsu and other party leaders, Singh said that India’s transition from a bipolar to a multipolar world order has made regional cooperation with like-minded nations essential for sustained economic growth.
The minister said that accountability has increased across all levels of governance—officers, ministries and ministers—largely due to the adoption of digital technologies that have improved transparency and service delivery.
Highlighting India’s growing global economic integration, Singh said the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) form a cornerstone of the country’s development strategy.
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Referring to India’s recent trade agreement with the European Union, he termed it a “high-impact” deal and said India has entered into trade arrangements with over 40 countries.
He also spoke on tariff negotiations with the United States, stating that India’s tariff rates are lower than those of many competing Southeast Asian economies, enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian goods.
According to him, the Union Budget aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and serves as a long-term economic roadmap, with its benefits becoming increasingly visible in the coming years.
He added that migration and mobility provisions under FTAs would enable skilled Indian workers—such as electricians, plumbers, engineers, nurses and technicians—to access secure employment opportunities in countries including the European Union and Russia.
Outlining the three pillars of the Budget—accelerating economic growth, fulfilling aspirations and ensuring inclusive development—Singh said that India’s greatest strength lies in its young population.
Reiterating the Centre’s strong focus on the Northeast, Singh described the region as Ashta Lakshmi, or the eight goddesses of prosperity.
He said that tourism, eco-tourism, agro-forestry, organic farming and high-value agriculture have been identified as major employment drivers in the region.
In Nagaland, he stressed the existence of strong community resilience and highlighted initiatives such as training tourist guides, developing eco-friendly mountain and bird-watching trails, promoting homestays and supporting women-led self-help groups through market linkages and e-commerce platforms.
The minister said that the objective of the Budget is to ensure that economic growth reaches villages and rural areas and is not confined to metropolitan centres, enabling inclusive development across regions.
Dimapur Airport land
Responding to queries, Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along said that the expansion of Dimapur airport was discussed at the last Cabinet meeting.
According to him, the issue of the Assam Rifles Training Centre occupying airport land remains under the Airport Authority of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as the land was leased to the Assam Rifles by AAI.
Along said that the civilian portion of the airport land had been cleared a year ago by the state government through an initiative led by the deputy commissioner, Dimapur.
He added that the state government, under the chief minister and the Cabinet, has repeatedly taken up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The minister informed that alternative land has already been allocated for the Assam Rifles to relocate the training centre, paving the way for expansion of Dimapur airport into a larger international facility.
Meanwhile, Singh assured all possible support within his capacity to assist the state.