Guwahati, Feb 25: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma outlined a bold vision for digital transformation, emphasizing connectivity as the backbone of progress.
Speaking at the I-Way to Viksit Assam session during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, Sarma reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a digitally empowered New Assam with robust infrastructure and high-speed connectivity.
Addressing the gathering alongside Union Minister for Communications and DoNER Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Sarma emphasized Assam’s readiness to embrace the digital revolution, leveraging strong support from the central government.
He underscored the critical role of data and high-speed internet in fueling Assam’s economic expansion.
Highlighting the AI-enabled data centres planned by Reliance Industries and HDFC, Sarma stressed the need for high-speed data infrastructure.
He proposed a game-changing optical fibre corridor from the Bay of Bengal via the Brahmaputra, ensuring fast and reliable connectivity.
With BPOs shifting from Tier-1 to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Jorhat are poised to become major outsourcing hubs.
Sarma acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s transformative Digital India Mission, which aims to empower citizens and bridge the digital divide.
The Assam government’s ambitious plan includes connecting 25,250 villages with optical fibre, unlocking new opportunities for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
He urged the Union Minister to expedite support for this project, reinforcing Assam’s position as a digital powerhouse.
Sarma highlighted Assam’s rising prominence in the IT and telecom sectors, emphasizing their role in economic growth, education, and governance.
With a semiconductor facility taking shape in Jagiroad, Assam is evolving into a high-tech manufacturing hub.
Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran has shown interest in setting up a ₹30,000 crore mobile manufacturing unit, promising significant employment opportunities for Assam’s youth within the state.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia lauded Assam’s strategic location and economic potential, describing it as not just a gateway to ASEAN, but also a key driver in India’s global trade ambitions.
He emphasized Assam’s role in Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
Sarma credited the Union Minister for Assam’s unprecedented digital development, pledging that the state government is fully committed to using I-Way as a force multiplier for Viksit Assam.
The session witnessed participation from key industry leaders, including IT Minister Keshav Mahanta, Special Chief Secretary Sayedain Abbasi, Nokia India Country Head Tarun Chhabra, Reliance Jio President Sunil Dutt, BSNL CMD A Robert J Ravi, and several other dignitaries.
