Assam industrial trajectory is witnessing a new high with the recent signing of nine Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with as many companies at a function held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. Accordingly, the State will witness investment to the tune of ₹ 8201.29 crore cutting across various industries.
Commissioner, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Oinam Sarankumar Singh signed the agreements with industry players like PepsiCo India Holding Limited, Varun Beverages Limited, Calcom Cement India Limited, Star Cement NE Limited, Century Float Glass Limited, Taj Cement Manufacturing Pvt. Limited, Star Cement India Limited and DS Group. On the other hand, Managing Director AIDC Manavendra Pratap Singh signed an MoU with the Adani Group for a centre for perishable cargo at the LGBI Airport to provide a state-of-the-art infrastructure for air cargo handling facility to boost export of horticulture products from the North East of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma termed it as a red-letter day for private investment in the State. “We have resolved the fault line in our society. The last two years have been unique in our history because for the first time since the Assam Agitation, we haven’t seen any bandh or agitation that would endanger the industrial environment of the State,” he said. “For expediting industrial development of the State, the Government has formulated a customised industrial policy to help individual private investment to the size of more than ₹ 100 cr. By doing so, the State Government is trying to create a congenial investment climate to put Assam on a robust growth trajectory.”
The Chief Minister said that the investment in the sectors such as beverages, snacks and food manufacturing, cement, glass, electric vehicles manufacturing would help in setting up of mega industrial projects in different parts of the State. He informed the gathering that these investments and follow-up activities would generate an estimated 6,115 jobs.
Talking about the accelerated growth of GSDP, the Chief Minister highlighted that in the last Budget, the State Government has created a corpus fund of ₹ 3,000 cr to enable members of self-help groups to convert themselves into micro-entrepreneurs so that they can contribute to GSDP. “For the youth in the State, the Government has decided to give a subsidy of ₹ 2 lakh to each entrepreneur in an effort to create two lakh young entrepreneurs.’’ He added that once the Assam Skill University becomes operational, the State would get at least 10,000 skilled manpower every year.
Dr. Sarma said, “I am sure this investment would augur well in expediting the rate of development and accelerat the growth momentum. This is just the beginning of our promising journey as we move along, our State will witness many more investments that will overhaul the industrial landscape of Assam.”
Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Bora also spoke on the occasion. Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Handloom, Textile and Soil Conservation Minister UG Brahma, Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta, Public Health Engineering Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Minister for Welfare of Tea Tribes Sanjoy Kishan, Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan were among those present on the occasion.
