GUWAHATI, June 14 - With a number of American and European companies deciding to withdraw their units from China following the COVID 19 pandemic, India is trying to woo them to set up units in the country. Not to be left behind, the Assam Government has also started an initiative to present the State as an attractive destination for such companies.
State Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna recently held a video conference with the representatives of the European Union including the Ambassadors of the countries belonging to the EU and Chief Executive Officers of the companies to request them to set up units in Assam.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Chief Secretary said that more than 60 representatives of the EU countries and company CEOs attended the video conference and the response was positive. He said that during the discussion, he had offered to provide basic infrastructure and land to the companies. He pointed out that to attract investments, Assam would have to provide basic infrastructure including land, water supply, power supply, roads leading to the industry sites etc and the State Government assured to provide it. He expressed the view that providing power should not be a major issue as it is possible to buy power from the national grid.
Sanjay Krishna said that during the meeting, Assam Government pointed out that by setting up units in the State, the companies would be able to take advantage of the incentives offered by the Government of India as part of the Industrial Policy for the North East. �The companies were also told that with the Government of India implementing the Act East Policy, the companies which set up units in Assam would have a ready market in the South East Asian countries and they should try to take advantage of it,� he added.
The potential of setting up agro based industries was also highlighted in the meeting.
In another positive development, a prominent Japanese company has agreed to set up an industrial township in 500 bighas of land in Nagarbera area of the State. The township will include industry sheds and residential quarters.
It may be mentioned here that the Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur had recently spoken about the immense potential of the North East region. In an interview with this newspaper, Thakur said, �There are immense opportunities across sectors like, tourism, agri-food processing, horticulture, adventure sports etc. Our�historic tax cuts have brought corporate tax rate down to 15 per cent;�which�will attract new industry and investments to�the region.�Further, the opening up of new sectors in�the Atmanirbhar Package will�accelerate opportunities in this region. The Dept of�North Eastern Region has allocated various projects relating to infrastructure, socio-economic development that are in various stages of completion. India�s hilly states will be�the new hubs of�economic growth.�
