Introduction
Advantage Assam 2.0, held on February 25-26, 2025, in Guwahati, marked a significant milestone in Assam’s economic transformation, reinforcing its position as a key investment destination in India’s northeastern region. This high-profile investment and infrastructure summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed to attract domestic and global investors, emphasizing Assam’s strategic location as the gateway to Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy.
The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and international stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities across critical sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing, aerospace and defense, logistics, and tourism. Major industrial houses like Reliance Industries and the Adani Group pledging multi-billion-dollar investments and strategic collaborations with global partners such as Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the summit set the stage for Assam’s next phase of industrial and economic growth.
Advantage Assam 2.0 was not just about investment; it also focused on socio-economic development, job creation, and cultural promotion. The summit witnessed large-scale participation from international business delegations and investors keen on leveraging Assam’s growing economy, rich natural resources, and improving infrastructure.
The inauguration was not just about business and investments—it also showcased Assam’s rich cultural heritage. The highlight was the grand cultural performance “Jhumair Binandini”, featuring:
8,000+ artists from Assam’s tea garden communities.
Traditional Assamese folk music, dance, and storytelling that depicted the state’s vibrant culture.
A world-record attempt for the largest synchronized folk dance performance.
This cultural extravaganza was a symbol of Assam’s unity, diversity, and artistic excellence, making the inauguration a blend of economic ambition and cultural pride.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Address: Assam’s Future as a Growth Engine
In his keynote speech, PM Narendra Modi outlined his vision for Assam’s transformation, emphasizing its role as an economic powerhouse in the Northeast. Key points from his address included:
- Act East Policy: Modi reaffirmed Assam’s position as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia, stressing the importance of cross-border trade, connectivity, and logistics hubs. He emphasized the need to strengthen economic ties with ASEAN nations through investments in highways, railways, and waterways.
- Infrastructure Development: He announced that Assam will witness unprecedented growth in industrial corridors, airports, highways, and rail connectivity, ensuring seamless logistics for businesses. New Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial clusters are planned to attract multinational companies.
- Investment-friendly Environment: Modi assured investors of policy stability, ease of doing business, and government support in Assam, highlighting tax incentives, land reforms, and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.
- Sustainable Growth & Green Energy: Special focus was given to renewable energy projects in Assam, particularly in hydropower and solar energy, aligning with India’s net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2070.
- Job Creation & Youth Empowerment: Modi stressed that the summit would help create millions of jobs, especially for Assam’s youth, through skilling programs, IT hubs, and startup ecosystems. He highlighted collaborations with global companies for vocational training, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
Key Dignitaries & Participants
The event witnessed the presence of top political and business leaders, including:
- Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, outlined Assam’s economic roadmap, highlighting the state’s goal of becoming a $143 billion economy by 2030.
- Union Ministers from Commerce, Infrastructure, Finance, and External Affairs, underlining the Central Government’s strong push for investments in Assam.
- Top corporate leaders including Mukesh Ambani (Reliance), Gautam Adani (Adani Group), N Chandrasekaran (Tata Group), Anand Mahindra (Mahindra & Mahindra), and Sunil Mittal (Bharti Airtel), who pledged multi-billion-dollar investments across various sectors.
- Global delegates from Singapore, Japan, UAE, South Korea, the UK, and ASEAN countries, showing strong international interest in Assam’s trade and investment potential.
Launch of Mega Investment Initiatives
During the inauguration, multiple game-changing initiatives were unveiled, including:
- “Invest Assam 2030” – A strategic investment roadmap to make Assam one of India’s top industrial hubs, aiming for a 15.2% GDP growth rate in the coming years.
- “Green Assam Mission” – A multi-billion-dollar initiative focused on renewable energy, sustainable industries, and eco-friendly infrastructure projects.
- “North-East Digital Corridor” – A project aimed at transforming Assam into an IT and AI-driven innovation hub, attracting tech investments and startups.
Infrastructure Expansion:
- New Industrial Corridors connecting Assam to the rest of India and Southeast Asia.
- Expansion of highways, railways, and waterways to enhance trade and logistics.
- Smart Cities & SEZs to create a world-class industrial ecosystem.
Skill & Education Initiatives:
- Collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry to launch nursing and healthcare training centers.
- Japan and South Korea to set up language and skills institutes for job-oriented training.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support healthcare and agricultural innovation.
Major Investment Announcements at Advantage Assam 2.0
The Advantage Assam 2.0 summit witnessed a record-breaking ₹2 lakh crore investment commitment, with major national and international players pledging investments across infrastructure, manufacturing, IT, energy, and agriculture. These commitments are expected to transform Assam into an economic powerhouse, creating millions of jobs and boosting regional growth.
Infrastructure & Logistics:
🏗 Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. – ₹50,000 crore investment in highway expansion, smart cities, and urban transformation projects.
🚢 Adani Group – ₹30,000 crore for logistics hubs, ports, airports, and warehousing infrastructure.
🛤 Larsen & Toubro (L&T) – ₹10,000 crore for expansion of Northeast’s rail network and construction of high-speed freight corridors.
🚊 IRCON & Rail India – ₹8,000 crore investment in high-speed rail links and modern railway stations in Assam.
🚢 Sagarmala Initiative – ₹5,500 crore to develop Assam’s riverine ports along the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers.
Energy & Green Power:
🔋 ONGC & Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) – ₹20,000 crore investment in oil refineries, natural gas infrastructure, and new fuel pipelines.
🌞 Adani Green Energy & Tata Power – ₹15,000 crore to set up solar and wind energy projects to boost Assam’s renewable energy sector.
🌊 NHPC & Assam Power Generation – ₹12,000 crore investment in hydropower projects across Assam’s river network.
⚡ ReNew Power & JSW Energy – ₹7,500 crore investment in green hydrogen plants and energy storage infrastructure.
🔋 NTPC & Assam Government – ₹5,000 crore for a lithium battery manufacturing plant for electric vehicles (EVs).
Manufacturing & Industrial Growth:
🏭 Tata Motors & Mahindra & Mahindra – ₹12,000 crore to establish an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant and an automobile component cluster.
🔧 Maruti Suzuki & Toyota – ₹10,000 crore investment for a new automobile assembly plant in Assam.
🏭 Vedanta & Hindustan Zinc – ₹8,500 crore for mining, metal refining, and aluminum processing units.
🏭 SAIL & Jindal Steel – ₹6,500 crore for setting up a steel and heavy engineering plant in Assam.
🛠 Godrej & Dabur – ₹5,000 crore investment for consumer goods, food processing, and FMCG manufacturing units.
IT, Digital & Startup Ecosystem:
💻 Amazon Web Services (AWS) & Microsoft – ₹8,000 crore investment in cloud computing and AI-driven research centers.
📡 Reliance Jio & Airtel – ₹6,500 crore for 5G infrastructure expansion, fiber optic networks, and data centers.
🚀 Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) & Infosys – ₹5,500 crore to set up AI-driven software development and BPO hubs in Guwahati.
🖥 Singapore & South Korea Tech Hubs – ₹4,000 crore investment in fintech, gaming, and AI innovation startups.
📊 NASSCOM & Startup India – ₹3,500 crore in incubation centers for Assamese startups focusing on ed-tech, agri-tech, and e-commerce.
Agriculture & Food Processing:
🍃 ITC & Nestlé – ₹5,000 crore to establish tea, spice, and organic farming processing centers.
☕ Tata Consumer Products & Amul – ₹4,500 crore investment in dairy, tea, and food processing units.
🌾 PepsiCo & Britannia – ₹3,500 crore for rice, pulses, and packaged food manufacturing plants.
🍍 Japan & Thailand Agri-Tech Collaboration – ₹3,000 crore for high-yield farming, cold storage, and export-oriented agriculture projects.
🌿 Patanjali & Dabur – ₹2,500 crore investment in Ayurvedic and organic product manufacturing.
Tourism & Hospitality:
🏨 Taj Hotels (IHCL) & Oberoi Group – ₹4,000 crore investment in luxury hotels, eco-resorts, and river cruise tourism.
🛶 MakeMyTrip & Yatra – ₹2,500 crore to promote Assam as India’s next adventure and heritage tourism hub.
🚁 Heli-Tourism & River Cruises – ₹1,800 crore for heliports and luxury river tourism along the Brahmaputra.
🌲 Forest Eco-Lodges & Wildlife Parks – ₹1,500 crore for sustainable eco-tourism initiatives in Assam’s national parks.
Education, Healthcare & Skilling:
🎓 IIT Guwahati Expansion & Foreign Collaborations – ₹3,500 crore investment for R&D centers and foreign university tie-ups.
🏥 Apollo & Fortis Hospitals – ₹3,000 crore for super-specialty hospitals and medical research facilities.
💊 Sun Pharma & Dr. Reddy’s – ₹2,800 crore investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in Assam.
📚 Skilling & Vocational Training Institutes – ₹2,500 crore in IT, AI, healthcare, and construction industry training centers.
🩺 Japan-India Healthcare Alliance – ₹2,000 crore for state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure in Assam.
Defense & Aerospace:
✈️ HAL & DRDO – ₹6,000 crore for aircraft component manufacturing and UAV production in Assam.
🚀 Boeing & Lockheed Martin – ₹5,000 crore investment in defense electronics and aerospace technology centers.
🔫 Adani Defense & Bharat Forge – ₹4,500 crore for arms manufacturing and military logistics in Assam.
⚓ Mazagon Dock & Cochin Shipyard – ₹3,500 crore for naval vessel repair and shipbuilding units.
🎯 Israeli Defense Companies – ₹3,000 crore collaboration for border security and AI-driven surveillance technology.
International Collaborations
Advantage Assam 2.0 attracted significant foreign direct investment (FDI), strengthening international partnerships. Various MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) were signed with global business leaders across infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and technology sectors.
Japan – ₹8,000 crore for bullet train feasibility studies, smart cities, and high-tech manufacturing.
Singapore – ₹6,500 crore for IT hubs, digital innovation parks, and AI-based fintech startups.
UAE & Saudi Arabia – ₹5,000 crore investment in petrochemicals, logistics, and real estate.
United States – ₹4,500 crore in cybersecurity, space research, and renewable energy projects.
United Kingdom – ₹3,800 crore in green energy and healthcare innovation.
Thailand – ₹3,000 crore in hospitality, tourism, and agro-based industries.
Israel – ₹2,500 crore for precision agriculture, irrigation tech, and drone surveillance.
MSME & Startup Ecosystem
Recognizing the vital role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the summit introduced several incentives to boost grassroots entrepreneurship. Key initiatives include:
💼 Assam Startup Mission – ₹5,000 crore in funding, incubation, and mentorship for Assamese entrepreneurs.
🏢 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) – Dedicated manufacturing clusters for MSMEs in textiles, handicrafts, and food processing.
📈 Government-Backed Credit Schemes – ₹3,500 crore in low-interest loans and subsidies for small businesses.
🚀 Tech & Innovation Hubs – ₹2,500 crore to support AI, fintech, and deep-tech startups in Assam.
🌾 Agri-Entrepreneurship Schemes – ₹2,000 crore to empower small farmers with high-tech farming tools and supply chain support.
Conclusion
The Advantage Assam 2.0 summit has marked a watershed moment in Assam’s economic trajectory, securing ₹2 lakh crore in investments across strategic sectors such as infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, IT, and agriculture. These commitments reflect the confidence of both domestic and international investors in Assam’s potential as a business-friendly destination and a gateway to Southeast Asia.
The summit has reinforced Assam’s role in India’s Act East Policy, strengthening trade links with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and other ASEAN nations. With massive investments in infrastructure, logistics, and digital connectivity, Assam is set to become a key player in regional and global trade networks.
The focus on renewable energy, digital transformation, and skill development ensures that Assam is not just growing economically but doing so sustainably and inclusively. The expansion of MSMEs, startups, and industrial clusters will empower local entrepreneurs and create millions of job opportunities, driving holistic development across urban and rural areas.
Additionally, the partnerships forged with global leaders in technology, defense, tourism, and education will bring cutting-edge innovation, research, and infrastructure to the state. With the roadmap outlined under Assam Vision 2030, the state is well-positioned to become a major industrial and innovation hub in South Asia.
