Abhijit Chaliha, Guwahati: Assam took a bold step forward on the path of industrial growth and economic transformation as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that investment proposals worth ₹23,000 crore under the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative have moved into the execution phase. The announcement was made during a high-level investment conclave held at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, marking what the Chief Minister called the beginning of a “new era of investment and development” for the state. More than 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed at the event, signaling concrete commitments from a range of national and regional industry leaders. These projects, Sarma said, are expected to create around 6,000 new employment opportunities across Assam, a development that comes at a critical time as the state works to retain and empower its youth workforce. Speaking at the conclave, Chief Minister Sarma highlighted Assam’s growing capacity to attract large-scale investment, crediting the state's revamped industrial policy and improved infrastructure. He revealed that Assam has already signed investment deals totaling ₹5.18 lakh crore and is now seeing tangible movement, with infrastructure plans worth ₹30,000 crore moving closer to reality. Among the major projects mentioned were the Guwahati Ring Road and the Narengi-Kuruwa bridge, together accounting for an estimated ₹7,800 crore in investment. Both projects are scheduled to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will lay their foundation stones on September 8. In another major infrastructure development, the Union Cabinet has approved the ₹23,000 crore Guwahati-Silchar Express Highway, a project that promises to revolutionize intra-state connectivity and give Assam a strategic edge in regional commerce. Several big names in the industry have committed substantial investments in sectors ranging from renewable energy to healthcare, cement, biofuels, and hospitality. Sarma noted that construction has already begun on multiple ethanol production units and cement factories, with nearly ₹2,800 crore already deployed on the ground. He expressed confidence that many of these MoU-backed projects will become operational by the end of the year, significantly boosting Assam’s industrial output. In a forward-looking move, the Chief Minister called on companies to look beyond Kamrup as their base of operations, proposing Biswanath as a potential site for Amul’s second dairy unit in Assam. Reassuring investors of full support from the state, Sarma emphasized that his government is committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, policy assistance, and ease of doing business. Addressing the persistent challenge of youth migration, Sarma pointed out that nearly 20 lakh youths from Assam are currently working outside the state, many for meager wages. He stressed the urgent need to create dignified employment opportunities within Assam, adding that the Advantage Assam initiative is a major step in that direction. The conclave was attended by Industries Minister Bimal Borah, senior government officials, and leading corporate figures, underscoring the scale and seriousness of Assam’s push to become an industrial hub. With concrete projects underway and a strong policy foundation, the event signaled not just promises, but a decisive shift toward sustained economic development.
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