Assam will be at Davos to pitch its investment potential

Guwahati, Jan 1: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said identity protection and development will be the central themes of the forthcoming Assembly elections, asserting that his government would take a firm stand against illegal immigration while sustaining rapid economic and infrastructure growth.

Addressing a press conference, Sarma said there could be no meaningful development unless the interests of Assam’s indigenous population were safeguarded. He underlined that the state now has clear legal backing to act against illegal foreigners, citing recent Supreme Court directions.

“Once a person is identified as a foreigner, the deputy commissioner can issue an order for that person to leave the country. There is no soft line anymore,” he said, adding that nearly 2,000 foreign nationals have already been identified and pushed back, with future action to be completed within a week of identification.

Declaring his New Year’s resolution, Sarma said his goal was to ensure the BJP’s return to power in Assam for a third consecutive term, even as ongoing development works continue without disruption. “Every person will benefit from development, regardless of background,” he said.

Presenting a wide-ranging account of the state’s progress, Sarma said Assam has emerged as the fastest-growing state economy in the country, recording 45 per cent growth between 2020 and 2025, far above the national average of 29 per cent. Quoting Reserve Bank of India data, he said the state’s economy expanded from about ₹4 lakh crore to over ₹7.41 lakh crore, while per capita income rose by 54 per cent over five years.

On law and order, Sarma said Assam ranks first in implementing the three new criminal laws. Crime reporting has dropped sharply—from over 1.33 lakh cases in 2021 to around 43,748 this year—while charge-sheeting has risen to 81 per cent and the conviction rate improved from 6 per cent to 26.38 per cent. Narcotics worth nearly ₹2,900 crore have been seized in the past five years, he added.

Highlighting connectivity projects, Sarma said four new bridges over the Brahmaputra are under construction, including the Guwahati–North Guwahati, Jorhat–Majuli, Palasbari–Sualkuchi and Dhubri–Phulbari bridges, the last set to become India’s longest river bridge. The Guwahati Ring Road project has begun, while the Dhubri–Phulbari and Palasbari–Sualkuchi bridges are targeted for completion by 2027.

He also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Kaziranga elevated wildlife corridor in January. The Gohpur–Numaligarh underwater tunnel project has been expanded to include a railway line, raising its cost to nearly ₹20,000 crore.

Sarma said Assam is modernising Guwahati Medical College with Asian Development Bank support and will open a new medical college in Bongaigaon this year. In a major healthcare push, the state plans to bring a ₹500-crore proton therapy machine—making Assam the first state in India to have the facility in a government hospital.

He said Assam will become the first state in the country to constitute the 8th State Pay Commission, marking a significant step towards employee welfare and progressive governance.

“Very soon, we will be able to secure a mobile phone manufacturing unit in Assam” he said adding this will be another big investment into Assam’s industrial sector.

In a big honour for Assam and a thumbs up for our economic policies, he said the state will be at the World Economic Forum in Davos to pitch the State’s investment potential and further boost our industrialisation efforts.

He announced the launch of Babu Asoni, a new education support scheme from February, under which postgraduate students will receive ₹2,000 per month and undergraduates ₹1,000 per month, for families with annual income up to ₹4 lakh. The Chief Minister also termed the land rights bill for tea garden workers “transformative,” warning that incentives to non-cooperative tea garden managements would be withdrawn.

Concluding, Sarma said Assam achieved zero rhino poaching in 2025, recorded rare wildlife sightings, and significantly reduced school dropout rates.

“Assam today is firmly on the path of growth, justice and inclusive development,” he said.