GUWAHATI: Assam’s Industries and Commerce Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary chaired a review meeting of the business sessions which will be held during the Global Investors Summit from February 3-4, 2018. In a meeting held at his office conference, Patowary took stock of the preparedness on the business sessions that will be held during the event.
Business seminars on 12 focus sectors will be held on both the days. These sectors are Agriculture and Food Processing including Organic Cultivation and Bamboo; Handloom; Textile and Handicrafts; Logistics; River Transport and Port Township; IT and ITeS; Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment; Plastics and Petrochemicals; Power; Tourism; Hospitality and Wellness; Civil Aviation; Petroleum and Natural Gas and Startups Innovation.
Minister Patowary said, ‘Investments in our promising sectors are key to the economic growth of the state. The objective is also to position Assam as India’s Expressway to ASEAN. The Summit is based on the core principles of the Act East Policy.’
Advantage Assam will be the largest ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the Government of Assam. The Government of Assam is fully geared up for its first maiden Global Investors’ Summit. The mega event which will be held from February 3-4, 2018 at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Around 2,500 delegates across the world is expected to attend the Summit with the congregation of industry champions.
Minister Patowary also reviewed the progress of the Exhibition Hanger where 25 stalls will be put up. The exhibition will have two hangers each displaying the core strengths of Assam to potential investors. Hanger-A will consist of 12 different departments whereas Hanger-B will have 13 departments putting up the international exhibits. NE states like Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland have confirmed their participation in the hanger. In total it will comprise of 25 different thematic pavilions spread across an area 4,400 sq. meters.
Apart from Prime Minister, several union ministers including Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources; Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Commerce and Industries; Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Law and Justice; Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister for Textiles & Information and Broadcasting; Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region; Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for the Ministry of Home are expected to take part in the proceedings as well.
The State Government has also been able to draw the attention of industry leaders like Ratan Tata, Tata Group; Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Group of Industries; Dilip Shanghvi, Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd.; Anand Burman, Dabur; Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group and ZEE; Amar Abrol, Air Asia India; Rashesh Shah, Chairman, Edelweiss; Sushil Goenka, Managing Director, Emami Group; Sanjiv Puri, ITC Limited; Harshavardhan Neotia, Ambuja Neotia Cements; Dr. Naresh Trehan, CMD, Medanta- The Medicity; Subhash Ghai, Executive Chairman, Mukta Arts Ltd; Shri Balakrishan Goenka, Chairman, Welspun Group have confirmed to be a part of the summit deliberations.
The Government of Assam has invited business delegations and ministers from as many as 20 countries in the ASEAN and the region overall. Bangladesh (led by Minister of Industries), Bhutan (led by Prime Minister of Bhutan), Cambodia to be (led by Minister of Tourism), Lao PDR (led by Minister of Culture and Tourism), Myanmar (led by Minister of Commerce) are expected to join the meet. In addition, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan and Nepal are to be represented by the respective Ambassadors to India. Moreover, Vietnam is going to be represented by a business delegation as well as eminent specialist speaker for the startup business session. Business delegations from other countries like United States of America, UAE are also expected in the Global Investors Summit.