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Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment & Infrastructure Summit
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 25 February 2025 inaugurated the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment & Infrastructure Summit 2025 in Guwahati, Assam. Welcoming all the dignitaries to the event, Shri Modi said “East India and North East India are embarking on a new journey of future today and Advantage Assam is a mega initiative to intertwine the incredible potential and progress of Assam with the world”.
He said that Advantage Assam was a representation of the same spirit and congratulated the Government and Chief Minister of Assam for organising such a grand event.
Assam’s Economic Growth
Shri Modi underscored Assam’s economic progress, noting that since the first Advantage Assam Summit in 2018, the state’s economy has doubled from 2.75 lakh crore to nearly 6 lakh crore. He attributed this growth to policy continuity, governance reforms, and substantial investments in infrastructure, education, and industry. He highlighted Assam’s ambition to become a $150 billion economy by 2030, positioning it as a gateway to Southeast Asia.
Strengthening Connectivity
• Bridges: Assam had only three bridges over the Brahmaputra for 70 years. In the last decade, four new bridges have been built, with more in progress.
• Railways: The rail budget increased from 2,100 crore (2009-2014) to 10,000 crore, modernizing over 60 railway stations. Assam now boasts the first semi-high-speed train between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri.
• Air Travel: Flights on nearly 30 routes (up from just seven in 2014) are boosting economic growth and tourism.
Industry and Manufacturing
PM Shri Modi emphasized the North East Transformative Industrialization Scheme, ‘Unnati,’ which aims to accelerate investments across Assam and the Northeast. He encouraged industries to explore sectors such as:
• Petrochemicals and Natural Gas: Assam accounts for 50% of India’s onshore natural gas production.
• Electronics and Semiconductors: The Tata Semiconductor Assembly & Test facility in Jagiroad is positioning Assam as a key player in India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Tourism and Agriculture
PM Shri Modi recognized Assam’s rich tourism and agricultural potential, highlighting the government’s focus on these sectors:
• Tourism: Assam is being developed as a key tourism hub with infrastructure upgrades and heritage conservation projects.
• Tea Industry: Assam tea, a global brand for over 200 years, serves as a model for expanding Assam’s agricultural exports and rural entrepreneurship.
Assam as a Key Growth Engine for India
PM Shri Modi reaffirmed Assam’s strategic importance in India’s economic future, urging businesses to take full advantage of its potential. He concluded by calling for collaborative efforts to make Assam a leading hub for industry, trade, and sustainable growth, reinforcing its role as a gateway to Southeast Asia and a pillar of India’s economic expansion.