GUWAHATI, Dec 23 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi along with Tata group chairman Cyrus P Mistry and managing director, besides chief executive officer of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Rakesh Sarna, opened Vivanta by Taj at Khanapara here today.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister said that Guwahati and North East India would evolve as the hub of activity for South East Asia and that the Tata group would showcase globally the State and the region�s rich cultures, biodiversity and overall tourism potential.
�Taj is a brand name by itself, and setting up of the hotel in Guwahati by the Tata group proves that peace and stability has returned to Assam. After five years, the Tata�s will realise that this was a worthwhile investment,� he speculated.
Gogoi praised the company for incorporating Assamese culture and monuments in the architectural designs of the hotel. The hotel has come up under a unique public-private partnership model, where land given by the State is leased for 60 years, and which is extendable to another 30 years.
Mistry, while addressing the gathering, termed it as a landmark development in the North East, saying the venture would serve as the natural gateway to key markets of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and China.
He added that the venture - a new signature in hospitality � would help in promoting Assam tourism in particular and the North East as a whole.
�The bewitching beauty of Assam and the North East holds the key to tapping the region�s tourism potential,� he added.
Mistry lauded the Chief Minister for the Government�s support to the Tata group in creating a fine property in Guwahati and also recalled the contribution of chairman emeritus of Tata group Ratan Tata and former director of Tata Sons RK Krishna Kumar.
Rakesh Sarna said that the establishment of the hotel proved the �future lies�in the East. The Tata group is committed to developing the infrastructure by making use of human capital of Assam and the North East. We are duty bound to repay what we owe to the region,� he added.
�The launching of the hotel was attended, among others, by Minister for Agriculture, Rakibul Hussain, Minister for Tourism, Sumitra Doley Patir, Ranjit Borthakur, Adviser to CM (Investment), Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary to CM, MGVK Bhanu, Chief Information Commissioner HS Das, and vice president of Indian Hotels Company, Rohit Khosla.
Danseuse Dr Maneka PP Bora gave a scintillating display of Satriya Nritya while violinist Sunita Khound Bhuyan gave a beautiful rendition of Bharat Darshan, a medley of folk music representing different parts of the country. An audio-visual presentation was made on the Vivanta by Taj.
Earlier, an all-faith prayer meet was held to mark the opening of the hotel.
In the morning, Mistry along with senior Tata group officials called on the Chief Minister at his official residence. During the 30-minute interaction, the Chief Minister requested Mistry for more investments in the State that would generate employment opportunities for the youth in tourism, tea and hospitality sectors. Mistry assured him of the Tata group�s commitment to the growth and development of Assam.
