Guwahati: ‘When you think investments, think of Assam’, proclaimed Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary while attending the ongoing St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at Russia.
Addressing the ‘State Showcase – Assam Session’, the Minister informed that so far the State has recorded Rs. 6,500 crore of investment last year generating over 40,000 employments – directly and indirectly. ‘Big giants like Dabur, Hindustan Lever, Patanjali have invested in Assam’, he added.
The minister underlined the healthy industrial ecosystem prevailing in the state and highlighted the strategic locational advantage of Assam as the centre of South-East Asian market. Minister Patowary deliberated at length on the business opportunities and possibilities in sectors like sugar, plastic, jute, food processing, energy, etc.
SPIEF-2017, which is being held from 1-4 June, 2017 is a Global Economic Forum in the world of business and economics. This time, Prime Minster Narendra Modi is the chief guest at SPIEF-2017. Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary has represented the State in the Forum while Commissioner, Secretary of Industries & Commerce Ashutosh Agnihotri has also accompanied him. Emphasis was laid on Assam as an investment destination and manufacturing hub for trading with South East Asia and ASEAN in line with the Government of India’s Act East Policy.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum – 2017 has witnessed huge participation- representatives from 133 countries, including heads of states and government from emerging economies, heads of major corporations, and the world’s leading experts in the fields of science, media and civil society. The SPIEF has been held since 1997; and since 2006, it has been held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation. Over the last 20 years, the Forum has become a leading global platform for representatives of the business communities to meet and discuss the key economic issues facing the world.