News Desk: Yesterday, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended the e-symposium on Logistics Management in the Emergent North East India organized by IIM, Shillong from Assam Administrative Staff College in the city and delivered the valedictory address.
Highlighting various initiatives of Assam Government for augmenting the logistics management in the state for achieving faster growth in the industrial sector, Chief Minister Sonowal said that launching of Export and Logistics Policy of Assam by the state government would strengthen the logistics infrastructure of the state like inland container depots, border trade centres, common facility centres, integrated cold chains, logistic parks, river ports, and material handling facilities, etc. He also underlined steps like provision of capital investment subsidy up to 30% subject to a ceiling of Rs.10 Crores for the creation of logistics infrastructures.
Saying that North East region has huge potential for growth and development of infrastructures including logistics were adequately developed to integrate with global and regional value chains, Sonowal cited the approval for setting up Multimodal Logistics Parks at Jogighopa by the state government with a project cost of three thousand crore rupees and covering an area of 200 acres as a major step to develop logistical infrastructure. Development of an International Industrial Park to provide world-class plug and play facilities for quick setting up industries in the state along with the existence of Food Park, Plastic Park, Bamboo Technology Park, etc. were highlighted by the Chief Minister during his speech.
CM also referred to the thrust provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central Government to North East through Act East Policy and he expressed happiness for the state’s farmers who were exporting fruits and vegetables to international markets from Guwahati apart from the opportunities provided to state’s entrepreneurs to tap the huge markets of South East Asia and BBN countries.
“Inspired by Prime Minister’s vision, we are working hard to make Assam the industrial hub, from which we can service not only the region but altogether 80 crores population residing in NE, Bangladesh and the ten ASEAN countries,” he said.
He underlined measures such as double-tracking and electrification of railway lines, the opening of India’s longest rail cum road Bogibeel Bridge and country’s longest bridge connecting Dhola-Sadiya, dredging of Barak and Brahmaputra rivers for connecting to Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for cost affective water transport, the new integrated terminal building at Guwahati Airport and launching of air cargo facilities, operating flights between cities of ASEAN and BBIN countries from Guwahati, etc. as historic initiatives to change the face of communication and transportation in the region.
“Our Government has notified many industry-friendly policies including policy on tax incentives for setting up industries and tourism units, IT policy, biotech policy, startup policy, sugar policy, solar energy policy. We have also announced a new MSME policy facilitating smooth setting up of industries in the State” he added.
Stressing on the need to match steps with the fast-changing world through ideas and innovation in every sphere, Sonowal expressed optimism that the ideas generated during the symposium would prove to be invaluable for the state governments of all the NE states to address lacunas in the system and bridge the gaps in logistics to emerge as a developed region in the country.
Several distinguished speakers, dignitaries, academicians, and students of IIM Shillong, among others, attended the e-symposium.
Image Source: Internet