Travel advisories in the way of global investments: Assam CM

Assam CM addresses threat perception affecting foreign investments, emphasizes state's independent investment strategy at Advantage Assam 2.0 summit.

GUWAHATI

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday (February 15, 2025) said the threat perception prompting many countries to warn their citizens against travelling to India’s northeast comes in the way of attracting foreign investments.

He said foreign embassies were being told to treat Assam in isolation from other northeastern States “because we cannot be influenced” by what happens elsewhere in the region. The ethnic conflict in Manipur has been one of the factors behind travel advisories issued by several countries, deterring their citizens from visiting the northeast in India.

Assam is one of eight States clubbed together as the “northeast”.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the Advantage Assam 2.0 investment summit, Mr. Sarma said travel advisories made the hosting of major international business events difficult.

“Foreign investment is not possible if such advisories are not withdrawn. How can people invest in Assam if they cannot visit the State freely? Australia and Japan have taken steps (to remove travel advisories) through some initiatives External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and I undertook,” he said.

Insisting that Assam had immense scope for investments in green energy, the Chief Minister said he had asked all the embassies to treat Assam differently from its northeastern neighbours. This underlined the State’s independent investment strategy to secure global partnerships in niche areas.