Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while gracing the opening ceremony of 7th India Industrial Fair (titled UDYAM 2022) on Friday at Khanapara in the city, emphasised on a new industrial policy for the north-eastern region (NE) in line with the one enacted for the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Organised by the NE chapter of micro, small & medium enterprises industry body Laghu Udyog Bharti in association with the concerned ministry and departments, the four-day long fair is aimed at providing the producers and manufacturers in the MSME sector a platform to showcase their products and items to prospective buyers from both government as well as the private sector.
In presence of Union MSME minister Narayan Rane, Laghu Udyog Bharti president Baldev Prajapati with other dignitaries, CM Sarma lauded efforts of the organisers for taking initiatives for the events which would help the new crop of entrepreneurs in the sector by motivating them to go ahead with greater zeal, witnessing the enthusiasm among prospective buyers for new and innovative products in the market.
“Start-ups will get new direction through initiatives like UDYAM 2022. Platforms such as this by connecting the producers with the prospective buyers would act as a potent driver for growth in the MSME world,” said Sarma adding that for the MSME sector to reach its full potential, it is the need of the hour that fearless entrepreneurs not averse to risk-taking take the lead in helping it reaching new heights.
Stating that the MSME sector contributes to 29% of the State GDP (gross domestic product), Sarma appealed to the major players in the industry to look at Assam as their most-favoured investment destination as the State today, under the current dispensation, is going through a phase of total peace and security across its length and breadth.
He revealed that the government has lined up a host of initiatives, such as auto-renewal of expired business licenses, etc, aimed at an overhaul of the industrial environment in Assam. This would go a long way in achieving the PM Narendra Modi’s dream project (Act East Policy) which is aimed at connecting the economy of the region with that of the south-east Asian nations, Sarma asserted.
Sarma also spoke about the steps being taken by the government to modernise and improve the roadways, river-ways as well as the logistic infrastructure of the State, which he stated, should be seen as a commitment of the current dispensation towards the investors, who have already invested or are looking forward to invest in Assam.
Sarma bats for a new NE industrial policy
