In February 2025, Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment & Infrastructure Summit at Khanpara locality Guwahati, Assam held from February 25 to 26.
Key People: The summit was attended by notable figures, including:Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA); Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Communications (MoC); Union Minister of State (MoS) Pabitra Margherita, MEA; Governor of Assam Lakshman Prasad Acharya; Chief Minister (CM) of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma; CM of Tripura Manik Saha
- Additionally, ambassadors from 61 nations and business leaders from countries like Bhutan, Thailand, Republic of Singapore, South Korea (SK), Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan participated in the event.
Highlights:
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces Major Railway and IT Projects at Advantage Assam 2.0
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR) and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MoE&IT), announced several new projects aimed at boosting the railway and Information Technology (IT) sectors in the region during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.
Key Announcements:
i.Advancements in Semiconductor and IT Sector: A new semiconductor plant will be set up in Assam, strengthening its role in electronics manufacturing and Guwahati Railway Station in Assam will be transformed into an IT hub.
ii.A Greenfield Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) will be developed in Bongora, Kamrup (Assam) with an investment of Rs120 crore under the Electronics Manufacturing Scheme.
iii.The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) located in New Delhi (Delhi) has been upgraded to a Deemed-to-be University, and a new campus will be established in Jagiroad, Morigaon district of Assam.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Unveils Assam’s Vision for Digital Leadership
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced major initiatives to improve digital connectivity in Northeast India during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.
i.Union Minister Scindia announced launch of 5G Laboratory (Lab) at Gauhati University in Guwahati to promote research and skill development in advanced telecom technologies, supporting cost-effective testing and future 6G advancements
ii.The MoC is investing Rs 1,800 crore through Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) based in New Delhi to expand 4th Generation (4G) and 5th Generation (5G) connectivity across Northeast (NE) India, including remote villages in Assam.
iii.Under the Samridhi Gram Yojana, each block in Assam will have a 5G Use Application Service to support telemedicine and online education.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Announces Rs 4,800 Crore Plan to Revolutionize Assam’s Inland Waterways
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), announced an investment of over Rs 4,800 crore to boost Assam’s inland waterways sector during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.
i.Union Minister announced Rs 1,500 crore investment under the Harit Nauka scheme to transition to eco-friendly vessels by 2030. Rs 375 crore has been allocated for the second phase of the Pandu ship repair facility in assam.
ii.The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) operating under MoPSW is executing Rs 1,010 crore worth of projects on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. Under the Sagarmala scheme, Rs 646 crore has been allocated to strengthen riverine infrastructure on the Brahmaputra.
RIL, Vedanta, and Adani Group Commit Over Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore Investment in Assam
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Vedanta Limited also based in Mumbai, and the Adani Group based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat have pledged to invest over Rs 1.5 lakh crore in Assam across various sectors, as announced by their respective leaders at the Advantage Assam Summit 2.0.
- RIL will invest over Rs 50,000 crore in Assam over the next five years, focusing on data centers, green energy, food parks, retail infrastructure, and hospitality. Vedanta plans to invest Rs 50,000 crore in oil and gas exploration and production. The Adani Group also committed Rs 50,000 crore for projects in airports, aerocities, city gas distribution, transmission, cement, and roads.
TERI Boosts Sustainable Growth in Assam with MoUs and Marketing Agreement at Advantage Assam 2.0
New Delhi- based The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as the official knowledge partner of the Summit, has signed two MoUs and a Marketing Agreement at the Advantage Assam 2.0 – Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025.
i.MoU with Namrup (Assam)-based Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL): This partnership will introduce TERI’s patented products, such as Mycorrhiza, biologicals, and biogenic nanotechnology products, into Assam’s farming sector.
ii.MoU with New Delhi-based Hindustan Rasayan Private Limited (HRPL): This agreement focuses on establishing manufacturing, storage, and distribution infrastructure for TERI’s advanced technology products in Assam.
iii.Marketing Agreement with BVFCL: This deal will enable the sale and marketing of Mukta Myco Plus+, TERI’s Mycorrhiza-based product, which promotes organic farming and enhances soil fertility.
Other Points:
i.Star Cement Limited based in Meghalaya plans to invest Rs 3,200 crore to set up a modern cement clinker and grinding plant in the region.
ii.The Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit ended, securing total investment commitments of Rs 4,91,500 crore for Assam.
About Assam:
Chief Minister (CM)- Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor– Lakshman Prasad Acharya
Capital– Dispur
National Parks (NP)- Kaziranga NP, Manas NP
