Assam was the first state in the Northeast to attract business from all over the country. For instance tea was first discovered in Assam. And today, a significant amount of the total tea production in the world is produced in Assam. In fact, it is one of the major industries of the country today.
Since the time when oil was discovered in Assam for the first time in 1889 at Digboi in Tinsukia district, it has been the reason for the existence of several small and large businesses. It has been a roaring business ever since.
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| - Shri Janaki Ballav Patnaik Governor of Assam |
Besides tea and oil, Assam has large reserves of coal too. The State is said to contain about 1200 million tonnes of coal reserves. The entire coal in this region is unique in the sense that it is highly volatile (36 per cent – 42 per cent), has low ash content (3 per cent – 15 per cent) and possesses high crackling index (10 per cent – 29 per cent).
The state is also one of the favorite destinations for tourists. We have river tourism, wild life tourism, cultural tourism, etc. Tourists, particularly, come to Assam to visit Kaziranga where rhinos and tigers are a common sight.
Apart from the above-mentioned industries, we have handicrafts. Assam’s handloom and handicrafts are much in demand. However, handloom and handicrafts are not large or medium scale industries, they are mostly small and micro enterprises. These enterprises also generate a lot of employment opportunities especially for women.
Lastly, the most important sector is agriculture. There is immense potential in the agricultural sector given the fact that the state is endowed with the very rich Brahmaputra, which can be used for irrigation purposes. The land is good for agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, etc.
I consider that agriculture should be declared as an industry not only for Assam but for the entire country because there is immense possibility for agricultural growth
How is the government promoting entrepreneurship in the state?
Government has an industrial development policy in place to take care of the needs of entrepreneurs.
In fact, this year we had organized for an industrial meet, wherein we had invited industrialists from all over the country.
The Chief Minister personally educated them on the opportunities and prospects of the region. All top-notch companies like TATA, Reliance, etc. had participated in the meet.
What incentives does the state provide to investors from outside Assam?
The most important thing that we provide is peace.
Assam is no-more how it used to be. The cases of conflict and unrest in the state are on a gradual decline. It is as safe as any other part of the country. There is no reason for investors to think twice before investing here.
The state is way peaceful now.
What are the prospects for MSME sector in Assam?
I would say, there is lot of scope for MSMEs in the state. The state is basically driven by the MSME sector. We don’t have many large enterprises, except for a few public sectors. And it is very recently that large sectors have entered the state. We are basically an MSME economy at the moment. But, certainly, there is ample scope for large industries.
Do you think cluster approach helps in inducing entrepreneurship?
Sure, it does, which is exactly why we are taking necessary steps to promote clusters in our state.
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