Advantage Assam 2.0: 7 countries to be partners, strategic MoUs to ve signed with Singapore, Japan

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 15, 2025

Assam is set to host Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 25-26 in Guwahati, bringing together global leaders, investors, and policymakers to unlock new avenues for trade, infrastructure, and employment. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attending the valedictory session.

The summit has confirmed seven partner countries—Bhutan, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, while six more, including the Philippines, Finland, Iceland, Austria, and the Republic of Korea, have also confirmed their participation. Additionally, confirmations from 14 more nations are awaited, further amplifying the event’s international significance.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the event’s potential to drive foreign investment and economic transformation. The Assam government is set to sign two key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Japan and Singapore, focusing on manpower recruitment and healthcare. Japan has expressed interest in hiring 50,000 skilled workers from Assam, while Singapore seeks to recruit nurses from the state.

Bhutan, on the other hand, has proposed the Gelephu My Fullness City project, with Sarma urging the Bhutanese government to establish a special industrial economic zone in Assam to bolster cross-border trade and development.

Reflecting on the achievements of the first Advantage Assam summit in 2018, Sarma outlined three key infrastructure milestones – Paradeep to Numaligarh crude pipeline, Expansion of the National Gas Grid to Assam and enhancement of Numaligarh Refinery’s capacity from 3 MMT to 9 MMT.

With over 7,000 registrations so far, Advantage Assam 2.0 is expected to attract leading global investors, top executives, and multinational corporations, further cementing Assam’s position as a business-friendly investment hub.

Sectoral Focus & High-Profile Participation

The two-day summit will emphasize eight strategic sectors, including tourism, renewable energy, electronics & semiconductors, aerospace & defence, mobility & logistics, and bamboo-based industries.

A distinguished lineup of Union Ministers—including Jyotiraditya Scindia, Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Piyush Goyal—will contribute to discussions on policy, trade, and investment.

The summit will also host 20 thematic sessions, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and subject-matter experts to explore key investment prospects. Global business councils, such as the US-India Business Council, India–New Zealand Business Council, UAE-India Business Council, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre, will be present, alongside multilateral agencies like The World Bank, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank, and the New Development Bank.

Top executives, including CEOs, CXOs, and senior leadership from key sectors like infrastructure, energy, IT, manufacturing, and logistics, will engage in high-level discussions on investment, innovation, and technology partnerships.

To further position Assam as a hub for high-tech industries, the state government has introduced two new policies ahead of the summit – Assam Startup & Innovation Policy 2025 – to foster entrepreneurship and technological advancements and Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Policy 2025 – to attract investments in defence production and high-tech manufacturing.

Ahead of the summit, Assam will commemorate 200 years of its iconic tea industry and industrialization at a special event on February 24 at Sarusajai, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.