Australia has removed travel restrictions for Assam, whereas Germany is currently reviewing its travel advisory. Nonetheless, four districts—Tinsukia, Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Dibrugarh—will continue to face restrictions. These areas are still designated as disturbed regions under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), keeping the Disturbed Areas Act in effect.

The Australian High Commissioner has indicated that Australia will completely lift its travel advisory for Assam once AFSPA is withdrawn from the four affected districts. Meanwhile, Germany is anticipated to announce changes to its advisory in the near future.

Global Delegation Set to Visit Assam

This update precedes a significant diplomatic event in Assam, where a delegation of 35 heads of missions, led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is scheduled to visit. The number of delegates is likely to increase to 50.

To facilitate their travel, the Prime Minister’s Office has arranged a special aircraft, with all expenses covered by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The delegation will arrive in Kaziranga on February 23, experience the Jhumur performance on February 24, and attend the inaugural session of Advantage Assam 2.0 in Khanapara on February 25. They are set to return to New Delhi the same night.

The delegation will feature representatives from several countries, including Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Rwanda, Sweden, Syria, Sudan, Thailand, and Singapore. Participation from a few additional countries is also anticipated.

Prime Minister Modi to Launch Advantage Assam 2.0

After attending the Jhumur performance at Sarusajai on February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the exhibition grounds. He will tour two key exhibition halls, “Pride of Assam” and “Future of Assam,” before officially inaugurating Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 25.

The event will be attended by Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, along with several high-profile industrialists.

Among the speakers at the inaugural function will be two prominent entrepreneurs from Assam—Abhijit Baruah, known for his contributions in oxygen production, and Anupam Deka, the founder of Repose. Other distinguished speakers will 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, and Natarajan Chandrasekaran.

The event will conclude with an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Significant Business Interest in Assam’s Economic Development

Advantage Assam 2.0 has attracted widespread interest, with over 18,505 people registering for the event, out of which 15,000 have received approvals. Additionally, 394 participants are interested in business-to-government (B2G) sessions, while 452 have expressed interest in business-to-business (B2B) meetings, reflecting participation levels similar to Gujarat’s investment summits.

On February 23, the Assam Cabinet will evaluate MoU requests to ensure that only credible agreements are finalized. In addition to investment proposals, there are also plans to establish hospitals and universities in Assam. Notably, Singapore has already initiated investments in Assam’s logistics sector.

The event has garnered 1,512 MoU requests along with 11,900 expressions of interest from Assam’s MSMEs. The central government is also expected to unveil new infrastructure projects during the event.

Highlights of Key Sessions at Advantage Assam 2.0

Virtual sessions on transport, railways, and shipping will be attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while Union Minister Piyush Goyal will lead discussions on export promotion.

A session dedicated to Bhutan-India cooperation will include Bhutan’s Agriculture Minister and a delegation of 12 representatives from Bhutan.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will preside over the valedictory session, which will spotlight the upcoming semiconductor industry in Jagiroad and the Numaligarh Bamboo Refinery.

High-level representatives from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, New Development Bank, and International Finance Corporation are also expected to participate. Key topics will include land and financial assistance for investors, with an estimated 2,200 attendees, including MSME entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of state and central government programs.

Highlighting Assam’s Unique Advantages

The summit will host specialized sessions covering aero-defence, aerospace, the aroma industry, and Assam’s future economic prospects. A dedicated session will celebrate the 200-year legacy of Assam tea, focusing on strategies to regain its international prominence amid current challenges related to quality.

The summit will also feature sessions focused on expanding global opportunities for MSMEs and promoting the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative. Discussions will cover the growth of the Ayush sector, the fragrance and flavors industry, and the potential of Assam as a leading destination for medical tourism and global healthcare.

The public exhibition will be open to visitors starting February 27.

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