Every investor a ‘VIP’ for Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma at Davos

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has underlined the Northeast’s growing economic significance, asserting that despite not being a large state or having the advantage of thousands of investment proposals, Assam treats every investor as a “VIP investor.” 

Speaking to India Today at WEF Davos, the Chief Minister said Assam’s development approach is rooted in recognising the region’s unique potential and ensuring focused attention to every investment opportunity.

“When you talk about India, you have to talk about regions as well,” the Chief Minister said, noting that the country comprises five major regions and that the Northeast is increasingly emerging as a centre of economic vibrancy. He attributed this transformation to sustained policy support and focused interventions by the Central Government, which have begun to unlock the region’s long-standing potential.

Highlighting key indicators of growth, Sarma said cement consumption in the Northeastern region has been rising by around 20 per cent annually, reflecting rapid infrastructure development. He pointed out that India’s largest untapped hydrocarbon potential is now being unveiled in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, while Assam is steadily positioning itself as a key contributor to the country’s emerging semiconductor ecosystem.

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The Chief Minister also noted that Assam has become a power-surplus state, a major shift that strengthens its attractiveness for industry and investment. “A lot of things are happening in the Northeastern part of our country,” he said, adding that the region is now poised to play a strategic role in India’s future economic roadmap.

Sarma further revealed that the country is on the verge of discovering some of its biggest rare earth material reserves in the Northeast. He said G2 and G3 level geological surveys are currently underway across five to six locations, indicating the scale of exploration and the potential for future industrial and strategic development.

Emphasising the need for greater investor attention, the Chief Minister said it is important for industries and investors to recognise the Northeast not as a peripheral region but as a new frontier of opportunity. He reiterated that Assam’s investor-friendly approach, combined with improving infrastructure, energy security and resource potential, positions the state and the broader Northeast as a critical growth engine for India in the coming years.