Day not far when people will read A for 'Assam': PM Modi at Advantage Assam 2.0 summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati on February 25, highlighted Assam’s pivotal role in India's development trajectory. He lauded the state’s economic growth, infrastructure advancements, and strategic positioning in global trade, emphasizing its potential as a gateway to East Asia.

Speaking at the summit, PM Modi asserted that the northeastern region, historically significant in India’s prosperity, is once again emerging as a key driver of the nation’s growth. “Advantage Assam is a remarkable initiative that showcases the state’s potential on the global stage. The northeast is set to lead India's development journey, and I congratulate Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his team for this grand event,” he remarked. Reflecting on his 2013 election campaign in Assam, he recalled envisioning a future where ‘A for Assam’ would be a prominent reference in India’s growth story.

Highlighting infrastructure developments, the Prime Minister underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing connectivity. “Before 2014, only three bridges spanned the Brahmaputra, but in the last decade, we have constructed four new bridges, including one named after Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. Assam’s railway budget, which averaged Rs 2,100 crore between 2009 and 2014, has now surged more than fourfold to Rs 10,000 crore,” he stated.

Addressing Assam’s economic transformation, PM Modi noted the state’s GDP growth from ₹3 lakh crore in 2018 to approximately Rs 6 lakh crore today, attributing this achievement to the ‘double-engine government’. He also emphasized India's expanding global economic presence, citing free trade agreements and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor as avenues opening new opportunities for trade and investment.

Touching upon India’s rising global stature, PM Modi highlighted the nation’s economic resilience despite global uncertainties. “The world trusts India’s skilled youth, its aspirational neo-middle class, its political stability, and its reform-driven governance. Our focus is on long-term, sustainable growth that will shape India’s future for the next 25 years,” he affirmed.

The Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit is expected to attract significant investment, further accelerating Assam’s economic and infrastructural development.