Chief Secretary interacts with members of EBG Federation
Wednesday,
03/06/2020,
Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna interacted with members of European Business Group (EBG) through a webinar at Janata Bhawan today. CS pitched Assam as a favourable investment destination while interacting with Ambassadors to India and commercial counselors. The webinar was conducted by Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Assam and facilitated by EBG Federation, India which aims to promote Europe as India's preferred business partner. The webinar was moderated by Raman Sidhu, CEO, EBG Federation. The companies included representatives from RDI India, AGS India, Pernod Ricard India, Maersk, TTC Global, Grant Thornton, Honeywell International India Pvt. Ltd. etc.
The Chief Secretary underlined that the European Union is India's largest trading partner accounting for € 80 billion worth of trade in goods in 2019. Highlighting the advantages of the state, the CS said, 'Assam lies at the centre of South East Asia which envisions strengthening trade links and people-to-people ties between India and the ASEAN. With its strategic location, the state offers a market of 800 million people and can serve as the gateway to the Southeast Asian market.' CS Kumar Sanjay Krishna further highlighted the state's main economic sectors like agriculture, tea, petrochemicals, oil and gas, energy, tourism, food processing etc. Dr. KK Dwivedi, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department presented Assam's advantages in terms of robust connectivity, natural resources, skilled workforce, credible institutions of higher learning, investor-friendly policies, ease of business etc. Poul V Jensen, Director, European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) requested for an institutional mechanism for meaningful engagement and regular intervention for mutual benefits, of which the Chief Secretary assured of full support and cooperation. Interacting with the Denmark's Ambassador to India from Denmark, Freddy Svane, on piggery farming and Slovenia's Ambassador to India, Jo2ef Drofenik on hydro power plants, the Chief Secretary underscored the potentialities and incentives of both these sectors in the state.
On the query from Luisa Lino, A10EP Portugal Global, an independent public entity of the Government of Portugal, the Chief Secretary entrusted Managing Director of AIDC as the single point of contact for facilitating investment in the state. He also asked companies like Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd and Blue Town India Pvt. Ltd. to come forward and work with the State Government to invest in pharmaceutical and IT sectors respectively in Assam. Harmit Sethi, Dalmia Cement lauded the state's initiatives to resolve the issues during the lockdown period. He further added the company's intent to invest Rs. 1,000 crore in the state. Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Oinam Sarankumar Singh; Secretary Pabitra Khaund; Additional Secretary [sari Bardalai and other senior officials were present in the webinar.