Sonowal asks officials to woo investors

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday asked the Industries and Commerce department to execute 'Ease of Doing Business' in right spirit to facilitate flow of investment into the state, an official said.

Chairing a meeting of Industries and Commerce department to assess quantum of investment in the state in the aftermath of Advantage Assam:Global Investors Summit last year, Sonowal asked the department officials to woo investors.

Post Advantage Assam Summit, investment to the tune of Rs 57,437 crore have already been firmed up in different sectors, besides investment proposals of Rs 15,925 crore are in the pipe line, official sources said.

The chief minister also enquired about the investments that have gone for commercial production and directed the I and C department along with other line departments to maintain a congenial atmosphere for companies to keep their production ticking.

Sonowal also asked the department to take up business reforms action plan for the improvement of Ease of Doing Business in the state.

Under the Assam Ease of Doing Business Act, 2016 a Single Window Agency was established and 405 Business to Government (B2G) services across 34 government departments are available online for clearance.

Taking stock of the implementation of National Bamboo Mission in Assam, he asked the department and Mission Director to aggressively pursue different components of the mission like propagation and cultivation, product development and processing, promotion and development of infrastructure for bamboo market and skill development and awareness campaign.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Additional Chief Secretary Industries and Commerce Ravi Capoor, Mission Director Bamboo Mission Meenakshi Sundaram, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Lohiya, Principal Secretary Rajesh Prasad were present at the meeting.