Top global business leaders to attend Assam summit

Ratan Tata PicAFPCorporate honchos including Ratan Tata Mukesh Ambani Dilip Sanghvi and physician Naresh Trehan will be part of over 4800 delegates from across the world in first ever global investors summit in Assam The summit Advantage Assam is being organised on February 3 to February 4 at a total expenditure of Rs 32 crore and will witness participation of business leaders and ministers from as many as 20 countries such as the ASEAN nations the US Czech Republic Germany Japan UAE and IsraelIt has a unique advantage of being at a strategic geographic location with a strong connectivity network making it an ideal destination for business with the ASEAN countries That is why the objective of the summit is to position Assam as Indias expressway to ASEAN Assam Commerce and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said at a press conferenceHe added that Advantage Assam will be the largest ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the state government and it will showcase the opportunities offered by the state in terms of exportoriented manufacturing and services to ASEAN and other countries A total of 14 international and domestic roadshows were organised as a part of the presummit preparations High powered delegation of the state government many of which were led by the Chief Minister engaged in more than 200 oneonone meetings with corporate houses in these roadshows We have seen over 4800 delegate registrations Patowary saidPatowary also informed that the government has identified 12 focus sectors for the summit including agriculture and food processing handloomtextilehandicrafts logistics river transportport township ITITeS pharmaceuticalmedical equipment plasticspetrochemicals and power iquestTourismhospitalitywellness civil aviation petroleum natural gas and startupsinnovation are the other focus areas for the business tycoonsiquest he addedTalking about incentives for investment Patowary said the state government has come out with the Assam Industries Tax Reimbursement for Eligible Units Scheme 2017 under which tax exemptions will be given up to 200 percent on the fixed capital for the units set up till December 31 2022Besides to strengthen the investment scenario the state has instituted some very attractive sectoral policies We will also introduce an overall state industrial policy The central government policy for the industrial development of North East is also coming soon he addedOn the poor power scenario Patowary accepted that Assam is an electricitydeficient state but said it will source the same from the National Power Grid for upcoming industries During the last one year we could bring investment to the tune of Rs 6500 crore in various sectors It is a big achievement Besides we also got sanction for developing nine port townships across Assam for an investment of Rs 1100 crore he addedThese townships will come up at Bogibeel Neematighat Kamalabari Silghat Pandu Silchar Karimganj Jogighopa and Dhubri the minister informed Besides dredging work at Brahmaputra is going on with two dredgers while more are on the way to create an effective waterway through the river he addedCatch up on all the latest Mumbai National and International news hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go