New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal today invited investors to seize investmentopportunities in the state and said his government is aimingto turn Guwahati into an investment hub in the country.
The chief minister urged investors to take advantage ofthe state's liberalised investment policies, ready-madeinfrastructure and improved business environment.
Sonowal was speaking at a curtain raiser for the'Advantage Assam: Global Investors' Summit 2018' scheduled forthe first week of February next year.
"Assam is no more a land of extremism. It has become aland of 3 P's -- Potential, Prosperity and Possibility," hesaid.
The government wants to make Guwahati the country'sleading investment hub, the CM said adding that the state hasroped in industry body FICCI to promote investment in thestate.
Sonowal said, "You (investors) must know the North-Eastis a focus area of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was beingneglected earlier but now every union ministers come to theregion... The PM takes report from the ministers about theirvisit. All this counts, helps in ease of doing business andgetting better returns."Sharing the investment figures in the last 1.5 years, theCM said, the investment of over Rs 6,500 crore by majorcompanies like ITC, Dabur, Hindustan Uniliver, Ajanta Pharmaand others is an example of state's improving businessenvironment.
The state chief minister assured investors of healthyenvironment for business.
Assam Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, "Iwill personally see that skilled workforce is available forthe green-field projects that come across various sectors."There are 230 blocks and there is a skill developmentcentre in each block that imparts training to youth in varioussectors, he informed investors.
The strategic location of Assam, presence of ancillaryindustries, existing demand within the state, neighbouringstates and countries provides conducive opportunity forsetting industries in eight focus sectors, according to adocument released at the event.
The pharma and medical equipment sector will reach USD 55billion in the years to come, it said. The state grows most ofthe herbs which can be used by this industry to produce newproducts and export it to ASEAN countries. There is also aproposal to set up a 120-acre Pharmaceutical Park at Chaygaon.
The plastics and petrochemicals: The plastic park atTinsukia with allocable land of 4.8 lakh acre provides immenseopportunity as the state under its Plastics and PetrochemicalsHydrocarbon Vision 20130 is looking to increase its productionfrom 6 MTPA to 14 MTPA.
The government also sought investments in the powersector where said projects of 1901.5 MW are in the pipeline.
Next is the river transport and port township. Thegovernment will develop inland waterways terminals, townshipsat ports, river taxis are also on the list and developingriver front, the industries minister said.
The fifth sector is IT (Information and Technology) andITes (Information Technology Enabled Services). The investorshave an opportunity to invest at the proposed IT Parks atGuwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar. Besides, there are 'RuralBPO' coming up at 15 locations in Assam.
The investors can also take the benefit of thegovernment's MUDRA scheme and set up handloom productionunits, apparel garment making centres, he said adding Assamranks 3rd amongst raw silk producing states.
Ravi Capoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries &Commerce, Assam, said the state government was keen to developAssam as the regional aviation hub and was looking at ways toestablish direct air connectivity with neighbouring countrieswhere the flying time was between 1.5 to 2 hours. PTI ABIMKJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.