Assam: Ready to Share its Precious Fragrance with the World, says Minister Bimal Borah

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Projecting Assam as the Agarwood capital of India, state Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Public Enterprises Bimal Borah said that the state is playing a crucial role in Agarwood processing and its value addition.

"With over 10 crores of agarwood trees in the state, Assam has a unique advantage in producing the world's finest agar, a highly sought-after ingredient in luxury perfume, incense, and traditional medicines," Borah said.

A landmark event shaping the future of Assam's Agarwood industry took place at Dhansiri Hall, Advantage Assam 2.0, Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025, bringing together key stakeholders from the agroforestry and fragrance sectors. Titled 'Agarwood Processing & Value Addition: The Next Big Opportunity in Assam,' the session showcased strategic innovations and collaborations aimed at positioning the state as a global leader in Agarwood production.

The minister emphasized the state's commitment to supporting the growth of the agarwood industry. He highlighted the government's proactive approach to implementing innovative policies, building necessary infrastructure, and fostering strategic partnerships to propel Assam's position in the global agarwood market.

"Assam is ready to share its precious fragrance with the world," the minister reiterated. Starting the panel discussion, Dr. Jehirul Islam, Founder Chairman of MJI Group & MJI Perfumes and Assam's first Indigenous oud-based perfume manufacturer, mentioned that the Assam government has taken decisive steps to legalise agarwood cultivation and trade. He further commented that the establishment of the International Agar Trade Centre at Dabidubi in Golaghat will not only streamline the trade but also ensure transparency, sustainability, and better economic opportunities for our farmers and traders. The premier entrepreneur of this sector, Dr. Islam, also expressed his firm belief that Advantage Assam 2.0 provides the perfect platform to showcase Assam's strength in agarwood.

Speaker Dr. U.S.N. Murty, Director of NIPER, talked about the value-added aspect of this industry and sector, emphasizing certification, quality, and quantity for getting the maximum value from the products.

Speaking on the aspects of ease of doing business on Agarwood, Dr. Geetima Das Krishna, Lead for Northeast & UTs at Invest India, underscored the speedy process of the formalities, preferably via a single window in the convergence of all departments. "CSIR, with the support of the Government of Assam, can lead the Agarwood revolution in Assam like the Lavender Revolution in Kashmir," said Dr. Virendra M. Tiwari, Director of CSIR North East Institute of Science & Technology (NEIST), one of the panellists.

Panellist Sagoon Wagh, Director of Kuberans Tech Ventures Pvt. Ltd., spoke about the investment opportunities in this sector and the organisation's willingness to support them.

The session also witnessed the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to foster collaborations and drive new business ventures. In his vote of thanks, entrepreneur Dr. Jehirul Islam mentioned that this level of discussion on agarwood has taken place for the first time in Assam on such a large platform.

The event was moderated by Dr. Sonali Ghosh, IFS, CEO of the Assam Agroforestry Development Board, and attended by industry leaders, tea planters, Agarwood businessmen, Agarwood farmers, students, and officials from various government departments.

Also Read: Advantage Assam 2.0: Union Minister Piyush Goyal Highlights Assam’s Future Growth Prospects

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