Modi government committed to strengthening development and connectivity in Assam: S Jaishankar

While interacting with the media at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati the Union External Affairs Minister said that India and Japan government is collaborating for enhancing skill development, business, and investment in a robust manner.

“The visit of the Ambassador of Japan to India, Satoshi Suzuki to Assam reflects how the Indo-Japan partnership can make a difference in India and more specifically towards the development of Assam. The Union government took Act East Policy to a higher level to expand the connectivity with South East Asia and the result is seen with numerous connectivity projects, economic flows and strategic cooperation,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar said that the Trilateral highway project is in the advanced stage now and the government is also focusing on the development of the aviation sector of the region.

“The Modi government is focusing on strengthening connectivity. Assam can play a critical role in power, transportation sector for the North Eastern region. Assam is a major player in producing refined petroleum products and the government is working to facilitate the sale of the product to a larger region. In this regard government is working on a pipeline to supply diesel to Bangladesh,” Jaishankar said.

On the other hand, the Ambassador of Japan to India, Satoshi Suzuki said that Japan and India are collaborating for the development of North Eastern region with special focus on Assam.

He further added that the development of North East region is indispensable for India to become a 5 trillion economy.

“Japan is supporting various connectivity projects in Assam. In this regard, a 20 km river bridge will be constructed over Brahmaputra river which will connect Dhubri to Phulbari and this will be the longest river bridge of India,” Suzuki said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that there is tremendous potential in the state for investment in different sectors.

“The government proposed for setting up a Japanese industrial township in a 600-acre plot in Nagarbera of Assam which will in a long way will provide industrial development in the state and business for both the countries,” Sonowal said.

Assam Finance minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present on the occasion and said that the state is keen on taking forward the Act East policy.

State ministers Chandra Mohan Patowary, Siddhartha Bhattacharya were also present in the programme.