GUWAHATI, Feb 5 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has termed the two-day Global Investors� Summit as a �landmark event� in the history of Assam and asserted that it would bring a major change to the economy of the State. He also asserted that the investments by prominent industrialists from different parts of India and abroad would be beneficial for the farmers as a number of agro processing units are also coming up.
Talking to The Assam Tribune today, the Chief Minister, who is elated with the response that the Summit received from the investors from different parts of India and abroad, said that the investments in different sectors would create employment avenues for the unemployed youths of the State, while, the local entrepreneurs would also be benefitted from it. He called upon the youths of the State to improve their skills so that they get an opportunity to get employment in the industries, which are coming up in the days to come. He pointed out that the State Government has already started the process of setting up skill development centres, while, an agreement has been signed with Singapore for setting up a North East Skill Development Centre. Setting up of industries will also give a platform to the youths of the State to properly utilize their skills and ideas for meaningful employment opportunities, he added.
Sonowal said that a high level committee would soon be formed to closely monitor the implementation of the agreements signed with the industrial houses for investments in the State during the Summit.
Reacting to allegations that because of industrialization, farmers would lose their land, Sonowal assured that no farmer would be forced to give up his land. He said that if any farmer is willing to sell his land, he would be free to do so, but the Government would not force anyone to give up his land. On the contrary, the farmers would be immensely benefitted in the days to come as a number of major industrial houses have agreed to set up agro based industries. Several business houses have also shown interest in investing in agriculture and allied sectors and all the farmers of the State would be benefitted from it.
The Chief Minister pointed out that at the time of Independence of the country, Assam�s per capita income was more than the national average. But the State�s economic condition deteriorated over the years because of various reasons. But the success of the Summit is an encouraging beginning and �we are confident that the State�s economy will see a major change in the coming days and our goal is to develop Assam as one of the most advanced states of the country.�
Replying to a question on whether a special industrial policy for the North East would be launched by the Centre soon, Sonowal said that the State Government had series of discussions with the Centre in this regard and is confident that a new policy would be declared soon. But at the same time, he said that the industrialists who have pledged investment in the State by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) did so without any such precondition. �The industrialists signed MoUs without any precondition for declaration of a special industrial policy. They had discussions with us and are happy with the incentives announced by the State Government to sign MoUs,� he added.
Sonowal said that with the Centre giving stress on development of communication network, the industries set up in Assam would get a huge market in the ASEAN and other neighbouring countries. Connectivity is a major issue and the Centre has given stress on road, rail, air and internet connectivity, which will go a long way in making Assam and other parts of the North East a major destination for investors, he added and pointed out that a flight to Singapore from Guwahati would start soon, while, the communication through Bangladesh and construction of the trilateral highway connecting India-Myanmar and Thailand would also give a major boost to connectivity.
Sonowal also expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, Central Ministers, his colleagues in the Ministry, Government officials, industrial houses, leaders of the ASEAN and other neighbouring countries, etc., for the success of the Summit, where industrialists signed MoUs pledging investment of Rs 1 lakh crore and sought the cooperation of all sections of people of the State for ensuring all-round economic development of the State.
