New Delhi: The Assam government will collaborate with the Ministry of Defence to establish a defence corridor from Guwahati to Nagaon, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a high-profile roadshow and round-table meeting in New Delhi Tuesday.
He described this initiative as a vital step towards integrating Assam into India’s strategic infrastructure development.
“We are positioning Assam as not just a gateway to Southeast Asia but also as a critical hub for defence and industrial growth,” he added.
Sarma outlined an ambitious vision for Assam’s growth at the event, attended by diplomats from 36 countries, industry leaders, and other stakeholders as part of the run-up to the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, scheduled for 25-26 February in Guwahati. “Our goal is to take global investors to Assam, show them the potential, and ask where and in which sectors they want to invest,” Sarma said in his keynote address.
The summit, aimed at attracting foreign investment, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck among the dignitaries present. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will also attend the event.
Referring to nominal GDP, Sarma said Assam had witnessed consistent growth of 12.5 percent in the last decade, with a record 19 percent growth in 2023. “Our GDP is projected to reach Rs 7.5 lakh crore next year and Rs 10 lakh crore by 2028. Assam is truly one of the strongest growth engines in India,” he said.
Economic growth, infrastructure development
In a bid to promote rapid industrialisation, Sarma announced a Rs 25,000-crore production-linked incentive (PLI) fund tailored to meet investor requirements. He underscored the Assam government’s commitment to the ease of doing business, highlighting the state’s quick policy approvals and customised solutions for industries.
“Our policy is simple, we sit with industries, understand their needs, and deliver tailored incentives promptly. Whether it’s reducing registration fees or facilitating land acquisition, we act swiftly,” he said, citing examples of rapid policy implementation that have enabled companies like Patanjali to commence operations in record time.
Sarma outlined major infrastructure projects being developed, including three new bridges over the Brahmaputra River, a satellite city around Guwahati with support from the Singapore government, and a proposed railway line connecting Guwahati to Gelephu, Bhutan.
“From 1969 to 2016, there was only one bridge over the Brahmaputra in Guwahati. By 2028, we’ll have six. This level of infrastructure development is something I couldn’t even dream of as a child,” Sarma said, emphasising the transformational changes taking place in the state.
Sarma attributed the state’s economic progress to a marked improvement in law and order. “In 2021, Assam registered over 1 lakh cases. Last year, the number dropped to 47,000. Crimes against women have reduced dramatically. This reflects the new Assam—peaceful, prosperous, and investor-friendly,” he said.
The chief minister added that militancy in the state had diminished significantly, with over 8,000 former insurgents reintegrating into society.
Sarma lauded Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on the Northeast as the “Astha Lakshmi” and a “new engine of growth” for India. “The prime minister has given us unparalleled support, from infrastructure projects to industrial policies. This is why we are able to deliver transformative change at an unprecedented pace,” he said.
Sarma extended an open invitation to investors, emphasising Assam’s readiness to compete with established industrial hubs like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. “We are small but determined to compete with big states. Our infrastructure, policies and commitment will ensure you won’t regret investing in Assam,” he assured.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, who also addressed the gathering, described Assam and the Northeast as India’s “growth engine of the future”. He highlighted the region’s strategic importance, and also said, “The entire northeastern region has a unique quality of being very welcoming, very friendly, very much nationalistic in their spirit.”
Goyal emphasised the significance of the Northeast in India’s overall growth narrative, urging investors to explore the opportunities in the region. He underscored the untapped industrial potential in Assam, especially in the automobile sector. “Assam has all the right ingredients to fuel prosperity. Self-reliance in the Northeast depends significantly on Assam’s leadership,” he said.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)