GUWAHATI, Dec 11 - The Netherlands Ambassador to India Alphonsus Stoelinga today called on Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal with representatives from various corporate houses from the country and discussed different business propositions in a meeting held at Brahmaputra State Guest House in the city. Possible investments and collaborations in the health sector, infrastructure development, water and flood management, waterways navigation, shipping, agriculture, solar power generation, rural electrification, etc., were discussed in the meeting where the companies offered to help with their expertise.
Saying that Assam needs Dutch expertise in managing flood and erosion caused by Brahmaputra river and its tributaries in the State, Chief Minister Sonowal invited the Dutch companies to come and collaborate with the State Government in infrastructure development projects and flood management. He also said that river dredging is another matter where the State would benefit from Dutch technology and knowhow.
The Chief Minister also invited the Dutch Ambassador to set up a consulate office at Guwahati and post an officer here for liaising with the State Government and exploring business possibilities which can benefit both Netherlands and Assam. Food processing and cold storage management for agricultural products of the State is one key area where Dutch companies can extend their expertise and he invited the Dutch company Kiremko come and set up base here for ginger and turmeric trade and make cold storage facilities here. He also offered to provide to suitable land for the purpose.
The company ARCADIS gave a slide show presentation on the possible river bank beautification and jetty construction at North Brook Gate at the Brahmaputra River bank in Guwahati where sea planes along with cargo ships can land and invigorate the waterways connectivity in the State. The Chief Minister informed about the government plans to dredge Brahmaputra river from Sadiya to Dhubri and connect the waterways to Chittagong Port at Bangladesh. He also said that Inland Water Navigation Department would look into the prospects of collaborating with the Dutch company for river bank beautification project.
Stoelinga also extended invitation to Sonowal and his cabinet colleagues to visit his country so that the technologies can be practically demonstrated in the field. The Chief Minister also invited the Dutch companies to take part in the Global Investors� Summit to be held in the state in February.