Advantage Assam 2.0: Bhutan Keen to Set up SEZ, 2 Big MOUs with Japan and Singapore on the Cards Says CM Sarma

He also noted Bhutan's interest in establishing Gelephu My Fullness City, urging Bhutan to consider an economic zone in Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that Bhutan has shown interest to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Jogighopa and two big MOUs will be signed with Japan and Singapore during the upcoming Advantage Assam 2.0 global investors meet to be held on February 25-26 in Guwahati.

Addressing the media in Dispur after returning from his Singapore visit to showcase Assam as an investment destination and invite business leaders to Advantage Assam 2.0, CM Sarma said that Japan is interested in recruiting manpower from Assam, initially around 50,000 workers, while Singapore seeks to hire nurses from the state.

He further stated that the bilateral pacts between Assam and Japan, the upcoming Gelephu Mindfulness City which will emhance ties with neighbouring Bhutan, and other sectors such as tea and others which will benefit Assam’s economy in the long run.

Reflecting on the achievements since Advantage Assam 1.0, CM Sarma highlighted the development of infrastructures like the Paradeep to Numaligarh crude pipeline and the Gas grid.

He also noted Bhutan’s interest in establishing Gelephu My Fullness City, urging Bhutan to consider an economic zone in Assam.

CM Sarma said that the Japanese authorities will work to remove Assam from the grey list which will in turn bring in unhindered tourism to the state, and this in turn will be beneficial to bring in foreign investors.

Talking about his recent visit to Bhutan, CM Sarma said that the upcoming Gelephu Mindfulness City near the Indo-Bhutan border will act as catalyst towards bringing in investments in Assam from the rich and affluent visitors who visit the city. He also mentioned here that the collective roadshow in Japan and South Korea have garnered good response from the business communities there.

Speaking about the roadshows that were conducted by the Assam government within India and outside the country, CM Sarma said the roadshow in Mumbai, the meetings with 11 bilateral chambers of commerce in New Delhi, the roundtable meet with emissaries of 31 countries in New Delhi, and other roadshows held in major cities of the country brought in good response.

Key Achievements of the First Summit

CM Sarma highlighted three significant successes from the first Advantage Assam summit:

1. Expansion of Numaligarh Refinery: The refinery’s capacity has been expanded to 9 million metric tons. The Assam government secured a 26% stake to strengthen its role, and a crude oil pipeline from Paradip to Numaligarh has been completed to support this expansion. 

2. Gas Grid Extension: The National Gas Grid, previously ending at Barauni, has now been extended to Lakwa, ensuring better energy connectivity for the Northeast. 

3. Infrastructure for Investment: The government prioritised infrastructure development to attract investors, with strong support from the central government. CM Sarma stressed the need for investment summits every three years to maintain industrial momentum. 

Nationwide Roadshows to Boost Investment 

The Assam government has conducted multiple roadshows across India to promote Advantage Assam 2.0: 

Mumbai Roadshow (January 6): Attended by 200 industries. 

New Delhi Meetings: The Chief Secretary met with 11 Chambers of Commerce. 

Diplomatic Roundtable (January 7): A meeting with 31 foreign ambassadors and the Union Industries Minister, attended by 40 industrial firms. 

Other Roadshows: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata saw participation from 219 industrial firms. 

CM Sarma personally visited Bhutan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore to attract global investors: 

Bhutan: Discussions centred on the Gelephu Mindfulness City project, which aims to facilitate foreign investment in Assam. 

Japan, South Korea, and Singapore: Over 100 companies from the semiconductor, AI, and data centre sectors showed interest in investing.

 High-Level Meetings: CM Sarma was hosted by the Speaker of Japan’s Parliament and met with three Japanese ministers, along with key officials in South Korea. 

Minister Keshab Mahanta visited Malaysia and Thailand, while Minister Bimal Borah engaged with investors in the UK and UAE. 

Emphasising the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), CM Sarma stated that roadshows were conducted across Assam’s districts to encourage local entrepreneurs. He also announced that 7,000 registrations have already been completed for the upcoming summit, ensuring a strong platform for business networking and growth. 

The Advantage Assam 2.0 summit is expected to be a landmark event, driving further investments into the state’s economy.

7 partner countries have confirmed their participation:

1.            Bhutan

2.            Japan

3.            Australia

4.            Singapore

5.            Thailand

6.            Malaysia

7.            South Korea

Additionally, 6 participating countries have confirmed there presence, namely,

1.            Philippines

2.            Finland

3.            Iceland

4.            Austria

5.            RepublicofKorea

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