Amid a broader push to boost Japanese investment in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed establishing an industrial zone in Guwahati exclusively for Japanese firms. The move seems to be aimed at compensating the loss of major investments in the state that followed protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. Sarma has been meeting top Japanese officials and industry leaders as part of a three-day visit seeking to project Assam’s economic potential and further boost India-Japan relations.
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Missed Opportunities Amid Protests Against CAA
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which is meant to allow certain minority groups from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to acquire Indian nationality, sparked widespread protests in Assam in 2019 and early 2020. This chaos led to the cancellation of the annual Japan-India summit at Guwahati in northeast India between 15-17 December 2019. About 150 Japanese companies had planned to descend on the region, led by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) but all canceled following the civil unrest. Five people were killed in the violence and a blanket curfew was imposed for several days, causing much disruption.
Re-establishing Economic Links
Recognizing the need to revive economic ties, Sarma recently interacted with Furukawa Yasushi, the State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, in Tokyo. Their talks focused on improving tourism and its role as an engine of economic progress and closer friendship. The state’s cultural diversity, its ancient Charaideo Moidams, the Kaziranga National Park, its lush tea plantations and golf courses all highlight Assam’s untapped potential as a well-known travel destination in the eyes of the Japanese tourists, Sarma asserted.
Guwahati Industrial Park Proposal
In a recent meeting, Chief Minister Sarma announced that the Assam Government is going to establish an industrial park in Guwahati to attract more Japanese businesses. Describing this initiative as an ideal step to lead to a golden life for the Assamese youth, he said Assam had always been proactive in providing an enabling ecosystem for business and investment. The planned industrial park is expected to offer incentives and support to attract Japanese firms and contribute to the growth of the economy in the region.
Partnerships for a Highly Skilled Talent Pipeline
Sarma further outlined how the need for a skilled youth, which was already addressed through some established programs, in Assam could fit the bill for Japan’s needs of a talented workforce. The aim of this collaboration is to harness the existing educational and vocational training opportunities for the mutual advantages of Assam and Japan.
Developing the Semiconductor Ecosystem
In Hiroshima, they visited the Micron Memory Fab facility, a major semiconductor facility. He threw his weight behind bolstering joint progress between Assam and Micron. Sarma leveraged Jagiroad’s Electronic Township potential to become the future semiconductor hub of the world, emphasizing that Micron’s FAB technology expertise could do wonders for the semiconductor value chain of Assam.
Faculty Engagement with Business Leaders
Speaking to a group of business leaders at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Road Show in Osaka, Sarma touted Assam’s economic prospects and investor-friendly laws. He cited the state’s robust infrastructure — 4,077 km of national highways, 2,500 km of state highways, 2,571 km of railway lines, 11 national waterways apart from several multimodal logistics parks and airports. Sarma said a well-connected infrastructure in Assam offered huge returns for investors.
Engaging with Leaders in the Food and Paint Industries
The MD also had a gracing opportunity to meet Lekh Raj Juneja, the CEO of Kameda Seika, a synonymous name in the Food industry. Sarma invited Juneja to explore the good potential in Assam’s fast-growing food industry, which already has specialized food parks and a number of large businesses. He also congratulated Juneja on being awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for 2025.
Moreover, Sarma also interacted with Kansai Paint Executive Officer and Head, India Business, Pravin Chaudhari, and its Director General of General Affairs, Sadayuki Sato. Discussions focused on the lucrative investment opportunities in Assam, considering the strategic advantages of the state and a welcoming business environment.
Conclusion
Global partnerships and the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s more proactive action of gaining ground to rekindle Japan investments in Assam is a big note towards it. Sarma pitches a special industrial park and emphasizes Assam’s economic-infrastructural strengths for lure of Japanesse business creating a win-win situation for both the sate and Japan. These projects are expected to boost the job market, propel technological advancements and foster cultural exchanges, paving the way for the region’s prosperity and development.
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