Assam’s Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Wednesday emphasised that the formulation of a pragmatic, people-centric and growth-oriented budget would greatly benefit from suggestions and insights offered by stakeholders from diverse sectors.
Delivering the keynote address at the Pre-Budget Consultation organised by the State BJP in Guwahati, the Minister noted that under the incumbent government, the implementation rate of budgetary allocations has risen to 90 per cent.
“The Government remains firmly committed to achieving complete and effective implementation,” Mallabaruah said.
The Finance Minister further stated that Assam today enjoys unprecedented importance and attention from the Union Government. Contrary to the perceptions of the past, the Centre no longer views Assam through a peripheral lens.
“The fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Assam more than thirty-five times stands as a powerful testament to the State’s growing strategic significance and prominence on the national stage,” he said.
Highlighting Assam’s economic metamorphosis, Mallabaruah remarked that there was a time when even investments of Rs 1 to 2 crore struggled to find takers in the State.
“Today, however, Assam has succeeded in attracting investment proposals exceeding Rs 5 lakh crore,’ he said.
Referring to the rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem, he stated that following the establishment of a semiconductor manufacturing facility, two additional semiconductor units are expected to be set up in the State, positioning Assam as a burgeoning hub of investment, innovation, and advanced manufacturing.
The consultation witnessed the participation of a distinguished gathering comprising economists, academicians, intellectuals, vice-chancellors from five universities, principals of fifteen colleges, authors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, sports administrators, and representatives from various trade and professional organisations.
Representatives from leading financial institutions, including NABARD, the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, and NEDFi, were also present.
Participating in the consultation, Abhijit Baruah, Managing Director of Assam Air Products, advocated greater emphasis on the MSME sector as a means of augmenting State revenue and generating sustainable economic growth.
Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka, Vice-Chancellor of Cotton University, urged the Government to allocate greater resources for strengthening the university’s infrastructure and academic ecosystem.
Akashjyoti Gogoi, Managing Director of egg-producing enterprise “Bahubali,” recommended insurance subsidies to support small-scale poultry and egg-producing farms, thereby enhancing their resilience and competitiveness.
The consultation was also attended by state Ministers Rameswar Teli, Ashok Singhal, Ajanta Neog, Biswajit Daimary, Bimal Bora, Kaushik Rai and Nilima Devi.
Assam BJP Holds Pre-Budget Consultations With Stakeholders From Diverse Sectors
