Assam Is An Investor's Paradise

Ever since Sarbananda Sonowal took over as Chief Minister of Assam in May 2016, he has been working hard to attract investors, both domestic and international, to the state. The Dollar Business, caught up with Sonowal to understand how he plans to make this northeastern Indian state an export hub.

- Niladri S. Nath

TDB: After taking over as Chief Minister of Assam in May 2016, you said that the state will go through a major transformation. How have matters progressed since then?

Sarbananda Sonowal (SS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put Assam on a resurgent growth track. In concurrence with Assam’s ambitions to be the gateway to South East Asia, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways has sanctioned Rs.1,26,000 crore for development of roads and infrastructure in Assam. The government has also undertaken a project for dredging the entire stretch of the river Brahmaputra, from Sadiya to Bay of Bengal. This ambitious project will allow big ships to navigate and help Assam access the sea route. Our initiative to develop waterways up to Chittagong Port, Bangladesh, will also boost economic activity in Assam.

The Government of Assam passed the Ease of Doing Business Bill 2016 in the first Assembly session itself. Now, registration and clearances for setting up of industries can be obtained online through a Single Window Clearance System. Assam was also the first state to approve the GST bill. To create a conducive business environment, a land bank has also been set up. In fact, land was allotted to Patanjali at Balipara, in Sonitpur district, within a week’s time. A new land pooling scheme is also being considered. Infrastructure creation is another major initiative of the current government to attract investment.

TDB: What initiatives has the government undertaken to create an investor-friendly environment?