GUWAHATI, Jan 7 - Reiterating the State government�s resolve in playing a proactive role towards the success of Act East Policy, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that his government is stepping up its efforts in increasing interaction with ASEAN countries besides enhancing people-to-people contact, and trade and other relations.
Addressing a Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Singapore today, Sonowal while expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping Assam and other northeastern states at the heart of Act East Policy, said that the Assam government is working very hard for making Guwahati India�s gateway to Southeast Asian nations.
Hard selling Assam�s immense potential, Sonowal said, �Assam and other northeastern states are close to ASEAN countries. We have land borders with Myanmar. Many of ASEAN capitals are within 2,000 km flying distance from Guwahati which is comparable to flying distance of Guwahati to many Indian cities. We are keen to start flights between Guwahati and ASEAN capital cities. The construction of a new terminal building at Guwahati airport is going to start soon. There is a motorable road link � the ASEAN Trilateral Highway connecting the Northeast and ASEAN countries.�
On the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Sonowal kick-started a roadshow of Advantage Assam: Global Investors Summit in Singapore to reach out to the industrialists and investors across the globe. As a part of the roadshow, the Chief Minister Sonowal presented the business landscape of the State, especially �ease of doing business�, �single window clearance system�, �skilled work force� and the State�s verdant natural resources before a galaxy of business leaders.
Sonowal also interacted with and presented before the members of the Assam Association, Singapore the State government�s initiatives for the Global Investors Summit to be held in Guwahati on February 3 and 4. He said that in the run-up to the summit, the government has come up with a new policy on tax incentives for setting up industries and tourism units, IT policy, biotech policy, start-up policy, sugar policy, solar energy policy, etc. Moreover, the government has proposed to
notify a 160-km-long industrial corridor near Guwahati to scale up industrial development in the State.
While speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, India�s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj introduced Sonowal as the �symbol of resurgence of India�s Northeast� and emphasised on greater India-ASEAN cooperation for mutual growth.
�It is a year of milestones. India and ASEAN relationship becomes 25 years old and since then our ties of partnership has evolved into a strategic partnership. The ASEAN region is at the height of our Act East Policy and as a symbol of that Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal is attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas,� she said.
Swaraj said, �Our Northeast region will prosper when there is greater collective push with Southeast Asia and the Northeast becomes a pitch to Southeast Asia. It is important to realise their growth for India-ASEAN ties.� The External Affairs Minister also underlined the importance of India�s economic growth for better India-ASEAN relationship.
�As Indian economy grows, our ties will deepen, our trade will be cheaper and investment flow will grow,� she said, adding that the Indian states play a vital role in the progress of the country and they are important in advancing India�s economic ties with the world.�
Sushma Swaraj along with Sonowal also met Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and discussed bilateral issues for the promotion of India-Singapore relations.