Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Tuesday said that Assam is uniquely positioned to emerge as a central growth hub under India’s Act East Policy. Speaking at the 2nd Guwahati Dialogue, the Minister urged entrepreneurs to capitalise on the state’s strategic geography and recent governance reforms to drive development across the Northeast and propel India toward the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The Minister emphasised that Assam’s location serves as a critical bridge between India and Southeast Asia. He noted that the state is now capable of catering to a massive market of nearly 800 million people, stretching from Nepal to Myanmar, as logistical and economic integration deepens.
“Assam today stands at a unique geographical crossroads. With the Act East Policy as our framework, powered by the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the state is positioned to serve a market of nearly 800 million people from Nepal to Myanmar. I call upon entrepreneurs to seize this opportunity and make Assam a gateway for regional growth,” Sonowal said.
Reflecting on India’s journey since Independence, Sonowal highlighted the last 11 years as a “defining phase” for the Northeast. He credited Prime Minister Modi’s sustained engagement—noting the PM has visited the region over 70 times—with promoting national integration through the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’
“In the 76 years of our Independence, the last 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been truly transformational. Innovative policies, good governance, and timely implementation have connected once-marginalised cities like Gangtok and Aizawl,” the Minister added.
Looking toward 2047, the Sonowal stressed that the path to Atmanirbhar Bharat must be rooted in civilisational values, invoking the teachings of Srimanta Sankardev. He underscored that pollution-free inland waterways are not merely transport corridors but are essential to environmental sustainability.
“From Gurujona Srimanta Sankardev’s teachings on collective well-being to our focus on clean waterways under the vision ‘Water is the Way of Life,’ this is development that unites, sustains and empowers,” Sonowal concluded.
The Union Minister ended by calling on startups and global investors to partner in Assam’s growth story, citing the convergence of policy innovation and expanded connectivity as the foundation for long-term regional prosperity.
