Guwahati, Feb 20: In a landmark decision, Australia has lifted its travel restrictions for Assam, signaling a major boost for tourism, trade, and international engagement in the region. Meanwhile, Germany is in the process of revising its advisory, reflecting growing confidence in Assam’s security and economic potential. However, restrictions will remain in four districts—Tinsukia, Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Dibrugarh—where the Disturbed Areas Act is still enforced due to the presence of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking at a press conference in Guwahati on Thursday, announced the development, stating, “I had previously mentioned that Australia and Germany were reviewing their travel advisories for Assam. Now, Australia has officially updated its guidelines, allowing travel across the state except for the four districts where AFSPA remains in effect. Earlier, the advisory covered all of Assam, but now it is limited to specific districts.”

Sarma further revealed that the Australian High Commissioner has assured that once AFSPA is lifted from these districts, Australia will fully remove its travel advisory. Germany is expected to announce its revised advisory soon, further strengthening Assam’s global connectivity.

Global Delegation Set to Visit Assam
This announcement comes just days before a high-profile diplomatic event in Assam. A delegation of 35 heads of missions, accompanied by 12 spouses, will visit the state under the leadership of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The number of attendees is expected to increase to 50, with the Prime Minister’s Office making arrangements for a special aircraft to facilitate their travel. The expenses for this visit will be covered by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The delegation will begin their tour in Kaziranga on February 23, where they will experience Assam’s famed wildlife sanctuary. On February 24, they will witness a traditional Jhumur dance performance, followed by their participation in the inaugural session of Advantage Assam 2.0 in Khanapara on February 25. They will return to New Delhi later that evening.
Countries represented in the delegation include Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Rwanda, Sweden, Syria, Sudan, Thailand, and Singapore, among others. Additional countries are also expected to confirm participation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Inaugurate Advantage Assam 2.0
Following the Jhumur event at Sarusajai on February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the exhibition grounds to explore two key exhibition halls—Pride of Assam and Future of Assam. He will then formally inaugurate Advantage Assam 2.0 at 11 AM on February 25.

The event will see the participation of Union Ministers S. Jaishankar, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Pabitra Margherita, alongside leading industrialists and entrepreneurs. Notably, two prominent Assamese entrepreneurs—Abhijit Baruah (Oxygen producer) and Anupam Deka (Founder of Repose)—will address the inaugural session.

Other eminent speakers include:
• Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty (CEO, Greenko Group)
• Prashant Ruia (CEO, Essar Group)
• Sajjan Jindal (MD, JSW Group)
• Anil Agarwal (Chairman, Vedanta Group)
• Gautam Adani
• Mukesh Ambani
• Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Chairman, Tata Sons)
The event will conclude with a keynote address by Prime Minister Modi, outlining the roadmap for Assam’s economic transformation.

Unprecedented Business Interest in Assam’s Growth
The enthusiasm surrounding Advantage Assam 2.0 has been overwhelming, with over 18,505 registrations, out of which 15,000 applications have been approved. Additionally, 394 participants have expressed interest in Business-to-Government (B2G) sessions, while 452 have signed up for Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings—figures comparable to Gujarat’s prestigious investment summits.

On February 23, the Assam Cabinet will scrutinize MoU requests to ensure that only credible investment agreements are signed. Alongside business deals, proposals have been received for the establishment of hospitals and universities in Assam. Singapore has already initiated investments in the state’s logistics sector.

The event has garnered 1,512 MoU requests and 11,900 expressions of interest from Assam’s MSMEs. The Central Government is expected to unveil new infrastructure projects, further boosting the state’s economic prospects.

Key Sessions at Advantage Assam 2.0
Advantage Assam 2.0 will feature several high-profile discussions, including:
• “i-Way to Developed Assam”: Led by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, featuring telecom and foreign industry leaders.
• “Act East, Act First, Act Fast”: A strategic session with ambassadors and high commissioners, headlined by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
• “Semiconductor Industry”: Led by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
• “Hydrocarbon Sector”: Addressed by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
• Transport, Railways, and Shipping: Virtually attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
• Export Promotion: Spearheaded by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
• Bhutan-India Cooperation: Featuring Bhutan’s Agriculture Minister and a 12-member Bhutanese delegation.

The valedictory session will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, with a focus on the proposed semiconductor industry in Jagiroad and the Numaligarh Bamboo Refinery. The event is expected to attract senior officials from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, New Development Bank, and International Finance Corporation.

Discussions will also center around land allocation and financial incentives for investors.
Showcasing Assam’s Strengths and Vision

The summit will showcase Assam’s potential through thematic sessions on:
• Aero-Defence and Aerospace Industry
• Aroma and Fragrance Industry
• Medical Tourism and Assam as a Global Healthcare Hub
• 200 Years of Assam Tea: A special session to strategize Assam Tea’s revival in global markets amid concerns about declining quality.
• Global Platforms for MSMEs and One District, One Product (ODOP)
• Ayush and Traditional Medicine Industry Growth
Public Exhibition from February 27
The Advantage Assam 2.0 exhibition will open its doors to the public on February 27, 28, and March 1, offering a closer look at Assam’s remarkable growth trajectory, economic opportunities, and investment potential.

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