India looking at more assistance from Japan to upgrade infrastructure in Assam

Jaishankar said Centre is giving special focus on infra development in Assam to implement its Act East policy as the state is the gateway of South East Asian nations

India is looking at more financial assistance from Japan to upgrade infrastructure in Assam in order to enable the state attract new investments, foreign minister S. Jaishankar said here on Monday.

"To get investment, you need an enabling environment. You have to have better roads, bridges, waterways for resources to come. So one part is how Assam can attract more investments in building better infrastrucure. Another part is how you can attract businesmen of a particular country. So the Centre is trying to help Assam build better infrastructure and we are looking at more assistance from Japan," Jaishankar said after addressing a conference on Act East Policy: India-Japan Co-operation in the Northeast India with special focus on Assam, here.

Jaishankar and Japanese ambassador to India, Satoshi Suzuki also took stock of two ongoing projects of drinking water supply and sewerage treatment plant in Guwahati. Implementation of the two projects have been delayed due to various reasons.

When asked about total Japanese investment in Assam, Jaishankar said it would come at around Rs. 9,000 crore. "This include some ongoing projects: Rs. 1,200 crore for Guwahati water supply and another Rs. 1,000 crore for the sewerage treatment plant. Efforts are underway for Japanese assistance for some new projects such as Rs. 1,600 crore for a new bridge over the Brahmaputra, Rs. 700 crore for an approach road of the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, Rs. 1,500 crore for Dudhnai to Dalu road via Baghmara and also we are looking at another at least Rs. 3,000 crore in health, fishery and agriculture sector," the foreign minister said.

When asked about possible investment by Japanese companies in Assam, Suzuki said, "It is upto the Japanese businessmen to choose Assam for businesses. They need to know about the potential sectors in Assam and we are trying to provide them more information. Already some young entrepreneurs in Japan knows about potential for investments in Assam."

Jaishankar said the Centre is giving special focus on infrastructure development in Assam to implement its Act East policy as the state is the gateway of South East Asian nations.