Act East Policy Dept to facilitate investment in state: CM

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that Act East Policy Department of the state government has been conceived to facilitate an environment for investment and rapid industrialisation.
"The government wants to explore business opportunities with South East Asian countries based on positive inputs from all sections of the society including business houses and corporate groups, economists, and students", he said while participating in a discussion after inaugurated an auditorium here.
Sonowal said the North East has been put in the forefront of development initiatives of the Central government and the state government has opened the Act East Policy Department to ensure the implementation of Act East Policy in a time bound manner.

Assam's image as the flood ravaged and erosion affected state must be changed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken steps to make Northeast region the new engine of growth for the country, he said.
Sonowal stated that a conducive environment for the youth to become part of this movement must be created through collective efforts.
The Global Investment Summit would be held here in February next and this event would bring technical expertise and required funds to usher in a period of industrial development and open employment avenues for the youth as they would not have to venture outside in search of jobs.

The state government has also planned to set up twin towers in Guwahati and the city would be made the business hub of South East Asia, he said.
Apart from strengthening infrastructure to facilitate industrial growth in the state, the Act East Policy would also provide opportunity to establish social and cultural relations with the South East Asian countries.
He urged the vice chancellors of universities to inspire students to chart new paths for taking up trade and business activities within the region and assured that the Act East Policy Department would facilitate a conducive environment for the same.