Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of Assam Agar International Trade Centre, which is the first of its kind in the country at Dabidubi in Golaghat district.
The state government decided to set up the trade centre to promote the business potential of the farmers as well as the entrepreneurs associated with agarwood plantation and trade in Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Sonowal expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for their cooperation that they have extended to the government and said that the Assam Agar International Trade Centre would be a step towards making a self reliant Assam.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to double the farmer’s income in the state by 2022, Sonowal said the establishment of Agar International Trade Centre is one of the initiatives, which the state government promised since coming to power in 2016.
Giving a snapshot of the sequel of steps that the state government has been taking to bring about industrial development in the state, Sonowal said immediately after coming to power his government organized Global Investors Summit to catapult the industrial growth of the state.
He also said the Investors Summit witnessed signing of as many as 240 MoUs with the commitment of 79 thousand crore investment in the state.
He however announced that after the summit more than Rs 40,000 crore investments have already been grounded to unleash a remarkable industrial growth narrative of the state.
Sonowal informed that to facilitate transformation of the state through transportation his government has taken several initiatives for the development of highways, railways, waterways, airways and I-ways.
He said a multi model logistics park, foundation of which was laid on Tuesday at Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district would expedite the all round development of the state and help the government in its bid to making the country as well as the state self reliant.
Highlighting a stark contrast of performance between the previous governments and the present government, Sonowal said under the present BJP led government in the state through its promise in making a state free from corruption, pollution, illegal migration and insurgency, government has achieved phenomenal success.
He thanked the people of the state in extending all cooperation for the government to work in accordance with its commitments.
He also said during the last four-and-half-years, rhino poaching in the state has almost come to a zero level and he attributed it to the setting up of fast track court for trying the crimes related to wild life poaching.
Sonowal said the there is no scope of any complacence as the state government has already drawn its road map to work relentlessly to facilitate the welfare of all sections of the state.
The Assam CM announced that the government would name the Assam Agar International Trade Centre after the name of Swahid Kushal Konwar in a bid to pay its tribute to the martyr.
Industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary while speaking on the occasion hailed chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s initiative in bolstering industrial development in the state.
He said there was a long felt need for an Agar Trade Centre in the state as the new trade centre would significantly help the farmers and entrepreneurs of Agar to sell their products.
Patowary also said the industries and commerce department would ensure that the construction of the Agar Trade Centre could be completed within the stipulated time frame.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and MLA Khumtai Mrinal Saikia also spoke on the occasion.