Shillong: Union finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday laid foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 1,200 crore across sectors in Meghalaya and inaugurated NE’s largest organic spice processing unit in Ri-Bhoi district.The initiatives include the Meghalaya Ecotourism Infrastructure Development Project with five sub-projects worth Rs 91.60 crore; the Meghalaya Logistics and Connectivity Improvement Project (MLCIP) with six sub-projects worth Rs 957.46 crore; Supporting Human Capital Development Phase II with nine sub-projects worth Rs 59.29 crore; and the Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development Project with 10 sub-projects worth Rs 138.39 crore.After inaugurating the conference on ‘Leveraging Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) in the North-Eastern States’ in Shillong, Sitharaman said externally aided projects have become a key development financing channel for the region, backing infrastructure, connectivity, livelihoods and social sector spending.She listed eight enablers for accelerating socio-economic change in the NE region: leadership, institutional capacity, human capital, women-led development, strategic financing, private investment, connectivity and partnerships.“Externally aided projects (EAPs) have an important role to play in this transformation, bringing not only financing but also global knowledge, international best practices, innovative technologies and stronger systems for project implementation, helping states like Meghalaya convert their natural resources into economic opportunities,” she said.The minister also pointed to the impact of ongoing investments in connectivity, saying upgrades in transport infrastructure, digital networks and power systems are linking people, markets and opportunities and supporting India’s Act East Policy.Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said the state is implementing more than Rs 12,000 crore worth of EAPs, describing them as a major capital source for infrastructure and socio-economic programmes.“The Govt of India extends substantial financial support to our state through externally aided projects. Therefore, EAPs remain one of the most effective ways for us to finance infrastructure and projects that require multi-sector interventions,” he said.