Assam CM promotes 'Global Investors Summit' to be held next year

The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Tuesday announced that the largest-ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the state government 'Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit' will be organised in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on February 3 and 4, 2018, in Guwahati.

Sonowal also unveiled the website of 'Advantage Assam' at a curtain raiser organised by FICCI. The summit would showcase the tremendous investment opportunities and highlight the geo-strategic advantages offered to investors by Assam.

The state is emerging as the ideal destination for investments capable of catering to not only the North East and the rest of India, but also to serve as the manufacturing and services hub for the ASEAN region, one of the world's fastest growing region with an economy of more than three trillion USD.

The chief minister said that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call to transform the North East of India as the 'New Engine' of growth for the country, Assam was now the land of potential, possibilities and prosperity. He urged the industry leaders to invest in Assam, India's Expressway to ASEAN, and assured that a safe and secure environment would be provided to them to facilitate their endeavours.

Assam, with its strategic location, offers a market of 800 million people as it serves as the gateway to the South-East Asian market.

Meanwhile, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Industries Minister, Government of Assam, said that the Government of Assam was pro-development and was safeguarding the interests of both the investors and labour.

Committed to providing a conducive and business-friendly ecosystem to investors, the government had recognised the importance of skill development and was working towards providing skilled manpower to the industry.

Enumerating the various policy initiatives of the Government of Assam, V.K. Pipersenia, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, said that the state was at the centre of the India-ASEAN interface and was gearing to take giant leaps towards development and prosperity. He added that issue of connectivity was being addressed. The government was enhancing airways, roadways, waterways, railways and internet connectivity in the state.

Ravi Capoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Government of Assam, said that the Government of Assam had identified river transport and port townships; power; plastic and petrochemicals; agriculture and food processing; pharmaceuticals; IT and ITeS; tourism; and silks, as the focus sectors for investments in the state. He added that the state government was keen to develop Assam as the regional aviation hub and was looking at ways to establish direct air connectivity with neighbouring countries where the flying time was between 1.5 to 2 hours.

Meanwhile, Harshavardhan Neotia, Immediate Past President, FICCI and Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, said that the strategic location of Assam coupled with business friendly approach of the State Government and abundant resources make Assam an ideal destination for industries like textiles, biotech and pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, food and agri business, plastics and petrochemicals, IT and ITES, renewable energy, electronics hardware, tourism, power and many other sectors.

He added that all entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders should avail of the opportunity to evaluate the prospects and consider investments in Assam in their areas of interest.