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| Industry heads pledge to push Assam growth story |
| Supratim Dey / Kolkata/ Guwahati Mar 10, 2010, 00:43 IST |
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Assam today saw a galaxy of towering personalities from the corporate sector sitting together and charting out the roadmap for the state’s economic and industrial development. Not just that, they also pledged to be part of the economic growth story of Assam.
Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, BM Khaitan, chairman of Eveready Industries, MS Banga, president (food, home and personal care) of Unilever Group, VN Dhoot, chairman of Videocon Group, Ronen Sen, former Ambassador to the US, OP Bhatt, chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), were among those who were here today to attend the first meeting of the Assam Investment Advisory Board (AIAB).
The meeting, which went on for more than two hours, discussed potential sectors of the state like hotel industry, tourism, healthcare, plantation industry and so on.
“We are here because we have been drawn here by the opportunities and potential of the state which has not attracted focus till now for varied reasons, like law and order. Most of us have committed to be here again and be part of the economic growth story of the state,” said Ratan Tata to media persons.
He added, “If I were not confident, I would not have been here today. We are here by choice as the state shows great promise. It is very early, but your will surely see some outcome very soon.”
When asked if security and law and order were a deterrent for the top ranking industrial houses from investing in Assam and North-East, MS Banga said: “Nothing is without challenge, but we need to surmount those challenges.”
Terming it a “great day for the people of Assam,” Gogoi said that “they (all the dignitaries present at the meeting today) have shown a lot of interest for the development of the state. I am sure, Assam will now move on the path of economic development.”
It was Gogoi’s initiative to rope in the top honchos of the Indian industry to be members of the AIAB. He had, in the last two months, written to all these personalities requesting them to be members of AIAB and, they all responded positively and were here today. “They (top corporate houses) are coming and joining us as stakeholders in the economic growth story is itself a very big thing. I think the time is just ripe for Assam’s industrial boom,” Assam industry minister Pradyut Bordoloi told Business Standard.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Group, Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra and MS Swaminathan, chairman of Swaminathan Research Foundation, who too are members of the Board, could not attend the meeting due to their pre-engagements. Sunil Mittal was represented by Rakesh Bharti Mittal, vice president of Bharti Group and Ambani was represented by a top official of the company.
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