GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Global Investors Summit – Advantage Assam — at Sarusajai Sports Complex here in on Saturday said North East had a very important role to play in India’s growth story and the development of Assam would also give an impetus to the development of the entire Northeast region.
He said the Union Government was keen to transform the state into a new centre of development for Eastern India which has been reflected in the policies adopted by the Government since it came to power in May 2014.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the exhibition halls put up by various departments at the venue. A total of 176 MoUs with 160 companies amounting to Rs 64,386 crore was signed on the first day of the Summit.
The Prime Minister said the focus of the development strategy was on “transformation through transportation” and hence stress has been laid on improving the road and rail connectivity in the region. He also said the Government will always continue to work to bring about qualitative change in the lives of the low and middle income families and promote the concept of Ease of Living at the same time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government was keen to develop the agriculture and allied sectors such as fisheries, animal husbandry and will lay prime focus on developing infrastructure of these sectors at present.
The Prime Minister said Assam has been ranked first in the Ease of Doing Business and is the most sought after state for investment at present. The Government will presently focus on development of infrastructure in the state to turn Assam into the new growth engine of India, the Prime Minister added.
Speaking at the plenary session Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasha Tshering Tobgay stressed on the exemplary relations shared by Bhutan and India and acknowledged the support and cooperation received from India for being a part of Bhutan’s growth story and in helping Bhutan transform into a strong sovereign country. The Bhutan Prime Minister said India was a role model for the country and said Bhutan stands to benefit from a prosperous Assam and the country was looking forward to capitalize on the Global Investors Summit.
In his address, Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal said the summit, though a humble beginning was a historic event in the economic growth story of Assam and said the Government was committed to turn Assam into a prime hub economic activity in the region. The Chief Minister called upon all the investors taking part in the Summit to explore the investment potential in the state and come up with more ideas of investment and promised that the Government would meet all of their expectations. In his speech the Chief Minister also mentioned about the upcoming world class trade centre, setting up of an Act East Policy Department of the Government, new integrated international airport terminal at Guwahati, exploring the river transport, wildlife and tourism potential of the state, Bamboo and diary development and how the Government of Assam was committed to promoting Ease of Doing Business in the state.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu said there was the need to create a development roadmap and create industrial policies based on the uniqueness of each state keeping in mind the Ease of Doing Business.
Japan Ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu said Japan was keen to continue to foster Indo-Japan ties and was committed to identify further areas of cooperation to contribute to the development of the state.
President, FICCI, Rashesh Shah, Tata Sons, N Chandrasekharan, Chairman, Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani, MD, Mcleod Russell India Ltd, MD, Century Plyboards Ltd, Sajjan Bhajanka, CMD, Spicejet, Ajay Singh, CEO, Patanjali, Acharya Balakrishnan, MD, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Dilip Sanghvi, Chairman gave detail about their investment and business plan for Assam to be partner in growth of Assam and the rest of the Northeast.