Guwahati, Feb 25: “When I visited Assam during an election rally in 2013, I had said that when people learn the alphabet, they will say ‘A for Assam.’
Today, that vision is becoming a reality, as Assam emerges as a powerhouse of economic growth, investment, and infrastructure development,” Prime Minister Modi said.
Welcoming dignitaries to Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment & Infrastructure Summit 2025 in Guwahati, Modi said East India and North East India are embarking on a new journey of the future today and Advantage Assam is a mega initiative to intertwine the incredible potential and progress of Assam with the world”.
The Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Dr S Jaishankar, Sarbananda Sonowal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr Manik Saha, Union Minister of State, Pabitra Margherita were present among other dignitaries at the event.
He added that history is a witness to the major role played by Eastern India in India’s prosperity. Expressing hope, the Prime Minister said, “Today, when we are progressing towards Viksit Bharat, Eastern India and North East will display their true potential”. He said that Advantage Assam was a representation of the same spirit and congratulated the Government and Chief Minister of Assam for organising such a grand event. He recalled his words from 2013 when he had said that it was not very far when ‘A for Assam’ would be the norm.
Impressing that Eastern India will play a significant role in making India a developed nation by 2047, Modi remarked, “Today, the Northeast and Eastern India are rapidly advancing in infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, tourism, and industry”. He expressed confidence that the day is not far when the world will see this region leading India’s development journey. He invited everyone to be partners and companions in this journey with Assam and concluded by calling for collective efforts to make Assam a state that elevates India’s capabilities to new heights across the global south.
“Despite global uncertainties, experts unanimously agree on one certainty: India’s rapid growth”, said the Prime Minister. He emphasized that today’s India is working with a long-term vision for the next 25 years of this century. He highlighted that the world has immense trust in India’s young population, which is rapidly becoming skilled and innovative. He also noted the growing confidence in India’s neo-middle class, emerging from poverty with new aspirations.
Highlighting the growing global trust in India, as witnessed by the gathering in Assam, Modi remarked, “Assam’s contribution to India’s growth is steadily increasing”. He noted that the first edition of the Advantage Assam Summit was held in 2018, at which time Assam’s economy was valued at ₹2.75 lakh crore. Today, Assam has become a state with an economy of approximately ₹6 lakh crore, he added, emphasizing that under their government, Assam’s economy has doubled in just six years.
Furthermore, he said that this is the double effect of their Governments at the Center and the state. The numerous investments in Assam have turned it into a state of unlimited possibilities, he stated. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Assam government is focusing on education, skill development, and creating a better investment environment. He noted that their Government had worked extensively on connectivity-related infrastructure in recent years. He provided an example, stating that before 2014, there were only three bridges over the Brahmaputra River, built over 70 years.
However, in the past 10 years, four new bridges have been constructed. One of these bridges is named after Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. Modi remarked that between 2009 and 2014, Assam received an average rail budget of ₹2,100 crore but their Government increased Assam’s railway budget more than four times to ₹10,000 crore. He added that over 60 railway stations in Assam are being modernized and also mentioned that the first semi-high-speed train in the North East is now operational between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri.
Touching upon the rapid expansion of air connectivity in Assam, the Prime Minister said that until 2014, flights operated on only seven routes, but now there are flights on nearly 30 routes. This expansion has provided a significant boost to the local economy and created employment opportunities for the youth, he added. Modi emphasized that these changes are not limited to infrastructure alone, but there were unprecedented improvements in law and order, with numerous peace accords signed in the past decade and long-pending border issues resolved. He underscored that every region, every citizen, and every youth in Assam is working tirelessly for the state’s development.
“India is undergoing significant reforms across all sectors and levels of the economy and continuous efforts have been made to enhance the Ease of Doing Business and a comprehensive ecosystem has been established to promote industry and an innovation culture”, emphasised Modi.
He stated that this progress is also being seen in Assam, which is advancing at double engine speed. He pointed out that Assam has set a target to achieve a $150 billion economy by 2030. He expressed confidence that Assam can achieve this goal, attributing it to the capable and talented people of Assam and the commitment of their Government. Remarking that Assam is emerging as a gateway between South East Asia and India, Modi said, that to further this potential, the Government has launched the North East Transformative Industrialization Scheme, ‘Unnati.’ He highlighted that the ‘Unnati’ scheme will accelerate industry, investment, and tourism across the entire North East region, including Assam. He urged industry partners to take full advantage of this scheme and Assam’s unlimited potential. The Prime Minister noted that Assam’s natural resources and strategic location make it a preferred destination for investment. He cited Assam tea as an example of Assam’s potential, stating that it has become a global brand over the past 200 years, inspiring progress in other sectors as well.
Stressing that Assam has always had a share in global trade, Modi remarked that today, over 50 per cent of India’s on-shore natural gas production comes from Assam and there has been a significant increase in the capacity of Assam’s refineries in recent years. He also pointed out that Assam is rapidly emerging in sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and green energy. He emphasized that due to Government policies, Assam is becoming a hub for high-tech industries as well as startups.
Highlighting that in the recent budget, the Central government has approved the Namrup-4 plant, the Prime Minister remarked that this urea production plant will meet the demand of the entire North East and the country in the future. He said, “The day is not far when Assam will become a major manufacturing hub in Eastern India”. He emphasized that the Central Government is fully supporting the state Government of Assam in achieving this goal.
Prime Minister Modi proudly noted that Assam is developing as an important centre for semiconductor manufacturing in India and mentioned the recent inauguration of the Tata Semiconductor Assembly & Test facility in Jagiroad, Assam, which will promote technological growth in the Northeast. He emphasized the collaboration with IIT for innovation in the semiconductor sector and the ongoing work on a semiconductor research centre in the country.
The Prime Minister projected that by the end of this decade, the value of the electronic sector will reach $500 billion. He confidently stated, “With India’s speed and scale, the country will emerge as a major force in semiconductor production, creating employment for millions and benefiting Assam’s economy”.
