GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Assam is reclaiming its rightful role as a gateway to Southeast Asia, reviving inland waterways, restoring connectivity and building infrastructure that will reposition Assam as a dynamic economic frontier of Viksit Bharat.
Speaking at the 10th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog on 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @ 2047' chaired by the Prime Minister in New Delhi today, the Chief Minister said that the Assam government, with active support from the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken comprehensive steps to transform the vision of Viksit Assam.
He said, "The pursuit of a Viksit Assam has long been a cherished aspiration of our people. The Prime Minister's vision of a Viksit Bharat presents us with an opportunity to transform that aspiration into reality and reclaim and rejuvenate the rich legacy of a prosperous Assam."
Guided by the vision of the Prime Minister, the Government of Assam has embarked on a transformative journey, nurturing the ambitious goal of making India the second-largest economy, he said. From exports and innovation to digital infrastructure, from railways to rocket launches, India is scripting a new chapter of progress, he added.
The Chief Minister said that before independence, Assam was a land of prosperity, with a per capita income higher than the national average. The state's premium tea exports had already gained global recognition. Assam enjoyed robust connectivity with the global economy-railway lines connected Dibrugarh to Chittagong by 1904, and the Brahmaputra served as a vital waterway linking Assam to ports like Chittagong. The state was firmly positioned as a hub of international trade. However, the partition of India in 1947 severed these arteries overnight, he said.
Today, under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, Assam and other northeastern states are no longer considered the prisoners of history.
The Chief Minister said, "We must implement dedicated transport and logistics corridors, revival of inland waterways and critical railway infrastructure, freight subsidies and long-haul incentives for industries, and affordable and reliable power with appropriate cost equalisation mechanisms."
He further said that Assam and the Northeast are not peripheral-they are strategic, economic, and cultural frontiers. "They are the gateways to Southeast Asia, rich in human capital and opportunity. He, therefore, said, "Let us correct the failures of past political vision with bold policy clarity today. Let us match the Prime Minister's commitment with institutional responsiveness and replace inertia with action."
On the importance of Viksit Assam for Viksit Bharat, the Chief Minister said that the state government has taken decisive steps to build a prosperous, empowered and self-reliant Assam. He further said that the state currently boasts a robust Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of USD 68.7 billion, with a remarkable 19 per cent growth recorded in the last fiscal year and an impressive 17.8 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past three years.
Elaborating on the government's strategy for Viksit Assam, the Chief Minister said, "We have identified several key sectors like tourism, textiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics, hydrocarbons, agriculture and infrastructure. We are also investing in future-orientated domains like new-age skills, green jobs and the circular economy."
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