Biotech interventions to help Assam become organic hub:Sonowal

Aiming to promote business in biotechnology and allied areas through entrepreneurship development, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today laid the foundation stone of the Technology Incubation Centre of Guwahati Biotech Park here.
The new initiative would facilitate faster penetration of biotech industry and accelerate the research and development activities in biotechnology and related fields with effective utilisation of the rich natural resources of the North East region along with educating and utilising local human resources, Sonowal said.
"We have inherent skills in organic farming. Assam and North East are rich in natural resources and its biodiversity holds potential to capture the markets of entire South East Asia through concentration in the organic sector. Biotechnological interventions can immensely help us in becoming an organic hub," he said at the site of the Park at Amingaon in Guwahati.

Stating that the traditional cultivation skills and farm processing techniques of the region are required to be modernised to increase productivity and income generation, Sonowal observed that a judicious mix of biotechnological know-how and conventional farming would immensely gear up the agro-based industry in the state.
Further, to create a scientific ecosystem in the region, the chief minister urged the youth to build a scientific mentality and take benefit of science and technological initiatives of the government towards skill development as well as entrepreneurship development utilising the facilities of Guwahati Biotech Park and the rich bio-resources of the region.
"Science and technology are going to be the way of life in the days to come and no one would be able to prosper without taking its advantages. This is a golden opportunity for our youth and I call upon you to reap maximum benefit from the Guwahati Biotech Park and contribute to the economic growth of the state," Sonowal said.

He also outlined his vision in making Guwahati the gateway to south east Asia by including execution of State Capital Region (SCR) Act and expanding the radius of Guwahati city and proposed World Trade Centre in the city.
Science and Technology Minister Keshav Mahanta informed that already over 25 acres of land has been earmarked for setting up the permanent campus of Guwahati Biotech Park at Amingaon which will be an unique centre in the North East region with Rs 35 crore sanctioned for the construction of a Technology Incubation Centre that will be ready by 2019.
The Minister also spoke about ongoing projects of the department which include setting up of District Science Centres, planetariums for generating scientific environment, a Science City at Sonapur, Science fairs and launching of 'Mukhyamantrir Bigyan Darshan' for common people in the state.