First roundtable of Northeast Global Investment Summit held

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The first roundtable of the Northeast Global Investment Summit was organized on Thursday. The interactive roundtable presided over by the Ministry of Development of the Northeast Region (MDoNER) and the State Government of Assam saw encouraging participation from startups, local businesses, national industry leaders, investment advisors, and industry experts.

Officials from the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, Industries, Commerce, and Public Enterprises Department, Government of Assam, and Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. briefed the participants on investment opportunities in the state. Officials from administrative departments of the Government of Assam, the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce, industrial organisations, and industry associations were also present at the conference. The investment roundtable saw insightful new-age business ideas. Assam, which has predominantly been a focus for businesses in the areas of power, energy, agriculture, and tourism, and opportunities in other sectors were also invited. As a gateway to the ASEAN and BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) zones, industry and investment experts averred the potential to develop an investment ecosystem in the region.

Government officials presiding at the roundtable discussed the measures undertaken by the state government of Assam. Salient features of the industrial and investment policies of Assam were highlighted. Besides a significant improvement in basic facilities, investors were also encouraged by the addition of several industrial parks and SEZs (special economic zones). Improved connectivity thanks to expansion work within the state's road, aerial, rail, and waterways also improved investor optimism.

This is the first time that an investment summit has been organized jointly by eight north-eastern states and the Union government. Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, presiding over the roundtable, said, "This roundtable has initiated goodness not just for the state of Assam but all North Eastern states. The investor summit is expected to be organised in September and will be a major milestone."

Explaining how such investor activities enable the northeast business environment, Ranjan further explained, "Roundtables like the ones organised in Assam today will enable the collaboration of investors, policymakers, and thought-leaders. At the Assam roundtable, we saw an exchange of ideas, thoughts, and information about the on-ground execution of a shared vision. The Northeast Global Investors Summit intends to highlight the Northeast region's enormous potential and draw in investments from around the globe to support its economic development."

According to senior officials, the roundtable is expected to fuel investment in the state as well as serve as a destination for global investors. Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, said, "I want to emphasize the importance of being sensitive and taking a broad perspective when considering private investment or potential investors, and the approach required for this has to be honoured within the government system."

Dr. Bhutani further added, "I would like to thank the Government of India for the Investor Roundtable Initiative, which discussed several investor-friendly projects across several sectors. The North East's proximity to ASEAN and other countries, coupled with the renewed focus, has turned this zone into an engine of growth. States like Assam have capitalized on the thrust enabled by DoNER."

In an effort to promote India's northeast region and investment in the state, the government of Assam organized the first state-level round table conference in Guwahati. It is worth mentioning that this conference is the first in a series of several round-table conferences that will be organized in all eight north-eastern states of India. At the end of this year, the main event, the Northeast Global Investors Summit, will be organized by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region in collaboration with the state governments of the North East. Three national and one international roadshows will be organized after the Round Table Conferences in the Northeastern States. These roadshows will be held in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Dhaka (Bangladesh) ahead of the main Northeast Global Investors Summit.

Also Read:   North East Bankers' Conclave 2023 to Deliberate on Challenges Facing Banking Sector in NE

Also Watch: