‘Advantage Assam: India’s Express way to ASEAN’ not just a statement but a comprehensive Vision: PM Modi

Guwahati, February 3: ‘Global Investors’ Summit’ Advantage Assam was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was warmly received by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. ‘Advantage Assam: India’s Express way to ASEAN’ is not just a Statement but it is a comprehensive Vision, said PM Modi during Advantage Summit Summit.

 

While addressing Advantage Assam Summit, PM Modi said that “we created the Act East Policy and the Northeast is at the heart of it. The Act East Policy requires increased people to people contact, trade ties and other relations with countries on India’s east, particularly ASEAN countries.” Expressing the significance of ‘Act East Policy’ PM Modi stressed on the important role played by North East.

 

 

PM Modi congratulated Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for creating a business friendly and development friendly environment in Assam.

 

CM Sonowal said that the Prime Minister has realizing the vast potential of Assam and its vast resources. He adds that the government has acted against corruption and improves work culture for the people and businesses. 'Advantage Assam' is a medium of realizing Assam in every sector. It is an effort to bring the focus to the advantages of the state, he adds.

 

The biggest advantage of the northeastern states is its location, he says, adding that the state's engagement with ASEAN countries can boost employment in the region, CM Sonowal added.

More speed in India's growth story will come when the people living in the northeast of the country, and the whole region develops at a fast pace. In the last three and a half years, the results of efforts from the Government of Assam have started to appear in the last one-and-a-half years by the Central Government. The extent to which this event is being held today, no one could think of it till a few years ago, PM Modi said.

Encouraging good vibes amidst Summit, PM Modi said that “thinking has changed that "nothing in the country can change". Now there is hope instead of people’s frustration.” 

Today the roads are being created at double speed in the country, doubling of the railway line at double speed, the railway line is being electrified at almost double speed, PM Modi added.

 

Stressing on the health of poor, the government has announced 'Ayushman Bharat Scheme' in the budget. This is the biggest plan of your kind world. The colleagues, who have grown up in poverty, who have gone ahead with poverty, have always realized that the biggest concern for the poor - the treatment of disease, PM Modi said. Further PM Modi said that under the scheme, every poor family will be provided free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh in the identified hospitals in the identified hospitals. This scheme will benefit approximately 45 to 500 million people of the country.

Highlighting the agricultural countries, PM Modi said that ASEAN countries, be Bangladesh-Bhutan-Nepal, we are all a farming country. The advancement of the farmers can reach the development of this whole area at a new height. That's why our government is working on doubling the income of the farmers of the country.

 

Recalling the Budget-2018, the special section for ‘National Bamboo Mission’ PM Modi stressed saying that “the bamboo wherever it was grown, to cut it, to transport it, a permit was required, approval was required. I think, in the whole country, if people of any area were more harmed than this law then the people of the North-East suffered the loss.”

Assam is ranked first among the North Eastern States in the Ease of Doing Business report.With the present leadership of the State Government, Assam is going to further improve its current position to emerge as one of the most sought after states for investment, PM Modi said.

 

“Development of MSME sector is a priority for us,” PM Modi said. “In this year’s budget we are giving a big relief to MSMEs by reducing rate of income tax to 25% on companies reporting a turnover of up to Rs. 250 crore. This will benefit almost 99% of companies,” he added.

Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister adds, "Guwahati is being developed as Smart City. I congratulate the people of Assam and Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal for holding such a big event with big fervour."