
Mumbai hosts Roadshow in lead-up to Advantage Assam 2.0
Staff Reporter
Guwahati: As part of the campaign for the upcoming Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit in Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday led a high-profile Roadshow in Mumbai. The Roadshow was organized by Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd to generate momentum for the upcoming Summit.
The Chief Minister said, "The Advantage Assam 2.0 summit is aimed at not only bringing in investments but also infrastructure development in the state. I am trying to promote sectors like hydrocarbons, green power, defence manufacturing, and tourism."
Talking to the media after the Roadshow, the CM said, "Investment in Assam means investments in the future of our great nation. We are here to support you in every step of the way, ensuring that your investment makes a lasting impact."
The Chief Minister also mentioned Assam's commitment to flexibility in adapting policies, saying, "Our officers will work with investors, and we have no hesitation in restructuring rules and regulations. We want laws to be facilitators, not an obstacle for industries."
The CM stated that, in a move to further encourage companies to set their base in Assam, the state government is setting up a corpus of Rs. 25,000 crore for Production-linked Incentive (PLI), which will be offered to various industries.
Hydrocarbon and natural gas reserves are plentiful in the state, and the scope of investments in this sector is immense. There is also heavy deployment of arms, vehicles, and equipment among security forces in the Northeast, as there are international borders on all sides. So, Assam can be a natural defence equipment manufacturing hub. There is also great scope for tourism in the state, with World Heritage sites like Kaziranga Natural Park and Manas. Now, Charaideo Maidam has also been granted the World Heritage tag. Moreover, there is a good tourism policy in the state that can attract investors. Already Tata Group is considering a five-star resort in Haflong.
The CM, while laying stress on solar power, said, "Already work is going on for generation of 5,000 MW of solar power. A lot of proposals are on our tables. Fallow land in tea gardens can be utilized for the setting up of solar plants. Regarding this, there is no hindrance of any sort from the government. All are welcome, and we will consider proposals on a first-come, first-served basis. Our target is to ensure that the upcoming industries will be able to run on solar power."
CM Sarma highlighted the state's commitment to fostering an investment-friendly atmosphere, stressing that once investors come to Assam, they do not want to leave. The government is dedicated to providing customized approach for every investor. "We believe in transparency and investment-friendly policies, ensuring that all levels of investment are treated equally. We have created a single-line investment policy that is customised to the needs of the industry. Every industry has different requirements, and we ensure that we meet them," the CM added.
Regarding the influx of Bangladeshis into Assam, the CM said, "We have been fighting against the influx right from 1979. Now we are taking tough actions against infiltrators, and we are pushing them back immediately. The problem is that as long as there are employment opportunities in India, they will continue to enter our territory. Some industries will also try to bring them as cheap labour. So, we have to decide not to give them any employment opportunity."
"I don't know how much we will succeed in drawing investments to the state through the Summit. My focus is making Assam a hub for future industries. Also, we will try to bring back the skilled and talented youth working outside the state and utilize their skills here," the Chief Minister stressed.
Also Read: Campaign for Advantage Assam 2.0; CM Meets Corporate Honchos in Mumbai
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