Beyond Securing The Chicken’s Neck: All The Ways A Defence Corridor In The North East Makes Perfect Sense

The idea of establishing a defence corridor in northeast India has been gaining momentum recently as the Assam Investors Summit nears its second edition. Situated strategically at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, this region holds immense significance from both security and economic perspectives.

Spanning the frontier zones of China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, northeast India is uniquely positioned to serve as a hub for military and defence operations. However, the advantages of a defence corridor in this region extend far beyond strategic importance.

From fostering regional peace to contributing to India's industrial growth, a defence corridor can play a transformative role in shaping the nation's future.

A Critical Frontier Zone

Northeast India, as a critical frontier zone, shares borders with China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, making it indispensable to India’s security. Amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, this region holds immense strategic importance.

The Indian Armed Forces maintain a robust presence here due to its proximity to China’s eastern flank and Myanmar's volatile areas, both of which carry significant implications for national security.

A dedicated defence corridor in this region would streamline the transportation of military equipment, supplies, and other logistics during crises. In emergencies, the timely mobilisation of forces and resources is crucial. A defence corridor would enhance the region's infrastructure to support swift movement of troops and military goods, making it a cornerstone of India's national defence strategy.

As the world’s geopolitical environment grows increasingly unstable, northeast India’s strategic relevance is only set to rise, solidifying the need for such a corridor.

Defending The Chicken's Neck

The proposed defence corridor in northeast India is pivotal to safeguarding the strategically significant Chicken's Neck — a narrow land corridor connecting India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country. This chokepoint is critical, both geographically and militarily, as it is the only overland connection between the northeast and mainland India.

During conflict or heightened tensions, securing the Chicken’s Neck is essential to ensure the seamless movement of military personnel, supplies, and reinforcements to and from the region.

A well-developed defence corridor would provide the capabilities needed not only to protect the Chicken’s Neck from potential threats but also to secure the northeast in case the corridor is compromised.

By integrating defence industries, logistics hubs, and strategic military bases along the corridor, India could enhance its ability to mobilise forces swiftly, monitor threats, and deter hostile activities aimed at severing this vital link.

In essence, the defence corridor would not only strengthen India’s defence preparedness but also ensure that the Chicken’s Neck remains a secure and accessible route for both military and civilian needs, regardless of regional security challenges.

A Rising Economic Hub

The northeast, once synonymous with insurgency and unrest, is now steadily transforming. Over the past decade, peacebuilding efforts have significantly improved the region's security, creating a stable environment. Combined with the government's focus on economic development, this stability offers a unique opportunity to integrate the region into India’s larger growth story.

Both the Indian government and the Government of Assam have introduced pro-business policies to boost industry and commerce across Assam and the northeast. These policies emphasise infrastructure development, tax incentives, and workforce skill enhancement. Establishing a defence corridor in the region would complement these efforts, fostering an industrial ecosystem that not only supports the defence sector but also drives the growth of allied industries.

For the region’s youth, the defence corridor could bring unprecedented opportunities in sectors like aerospace, manufacturing, robotics, and cyber defence. These initiatives could provide employment within the region, reducing the need to migrate elsewhere and contributing to the northeast’s economic upliftment.

Proximity To Southeast Asian Markets

India’s vision of a robust military-industrial complex similar to the West is steadily advancing, and northeast India’s proximity to Southeast Asia and ASEAN markets positions it as a key player in global defence and economic supply chains. As a gateway to Southeast Asia, the region provides access to growing markets and strategic trade routes.

This geographical advantage makes northeast India an ideal site for defence manufacturing hubs, especially as India seeks to diversify supply chains and reduce dependency on foreign imports.

A defence corridor could also facilitate defence exports to Southeast Asia, bolstering India’s regional influence and strengthening ties with ASEAN nations by positioning India as a reliable economic and security partner.

Strategic Deterrence In A Volatile World

A defence corridor in northeast India would serve as a strategic military hub and a deterrent to external threats. A robust military-industrial presence in the region would send a clear message to adversaries, while also fortifying India's defence capabilities. This is particularly important as India seeks to assert itself as a regional power in the face of rising challenges from neighbouring countries.

Driving Civilian Growth Alongside Defence Development

The corridor could create synergies between the defence sector and civilian industries. Innovations in defence technology could find civilian applications, boosting sectors like manufacturing, transportation, and electronics. For example, the semiconductor plant in Jagiroad could facilitate collaboration between defence and civilian industries, driving technological growth in the region.

This “dual-use” potential would mean that a region focused on defence production could also fuel the growth of other sectors, creating a more diversified economy.

Furthermore, investments in defence infrastructure would improve roads, railways, and airports, benefiting both military operations and the local population. As defence industries flourish, the region would see increased investments in education, healthcare, and technology, ensuring that the benefits of development extend to all sectors of society.

The How? — A Plan In The Nascent Stages

The Assam Government has laid out an early-stage roadmap to develop a defence corridor in the northeast, aimed at enhancing regional economic growth and bolstering national security.

At the heart of this initiative is the Advantage Assam Summit 2.0, which provides a unique platform for defence industries to invest in one of India’s most strategic and economically promising regions. Assam's proactive push for industrial growth, particularly in the defence sector, underscores its commitment to creating a cost-effective, resource-rich, and strategically located ecosystem for businesses.

With robust infrastructure, competitive land pricing, and an industry-friendly environment, Assam is fast emerging as a hub for defence manufacturing.

The state government actively encourages public-private partnerships in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence to drive innovation, research, and defence manufacturing. To improve the ease of doing business, Assam has implemented key reforms, including land restructuring and the creation of industrial land clusters.

Assam offers industrial land at an attractive price of just $1.5 per square foot, coupled with a range of incentives such as:

• Tax reimbursement on fixed capital investments.

Investors also receive financial support for environmental compliance, and the state has introduced forward-looking policies, such as the New Electric Vehicle Policy, to attract diverse industries.

The state boasts over 50 industrial parks with sector-specific infrastructure and has established a 99.4-mile industrial zone along National Highways near Guwahati. Additionally, the industrial growth centre at Matia is strategically positioned within 750 km of key regional markets, including China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar, offering significant cross-border trade opportunities.

To ensure a steady supply of skilled manpower, Assam has prioritised technical education and workforce development. This focus aligns with the state’s goal of creating employment opportunities for local youth in high-growth sectors like defence manufacturing. Incentives for local hiring further underscore the government’s commitment to socio-economic development.

Improving national waterways, particularly the Brahmaputra River, is another critical factor in Assam’s strategy. With the development of 111 national waterways, including the Brahmaputra River, logistics costs have been reduced significantly. This improved infrastructure makes the movement of goods, including defence materials, more efficient and cost-effective.

The proposed defence corridor is more than a step toward strengthening India’s military capabilities — it represents a transformative vision to position northeast India as an economic and industrial powerhouse.

With its strategic location, rich resources, government-supported pro-business policies, and enhanced connectivity, the region is ideally suited to become a hub for defence and industrial development.

By leveraging its proximity to Southeast Asia, India can establish a competitive defence manufacturing base in the northeast, poised to play a pivotal role in global security and economic supply chains.

As a cornerstone of India’s defence strategy and economic resurgence, the northeast holds the potential to define the nation’s aspirations in the twenty-first century.