Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been actively promoting Assam as a semiconductor investment hub at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.
He held meetings with global giants including IBM, Synopsys, and Qualcomm, highlighting Assam’s readiness with policy clarity, infrastructure, and a skilled workforce.
At the Business Summit on Wednesday, Sarma said, “Right from IBM, I think we met all the global players of the semiconductor ecosystem…We have met several global players in the last 3 days.”
Sarma’s pitch focused on Assam’s strategic advantages, including its position as India’s fastest-growing state and its role as a gateway to the Northeast. He is exploring collaborations in semiconductors, green energy, and tourism, with potential investments worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore.
On his third day at WEF 2026, Sarma held a special meeting with IBM Vice President Gary Cohn to explore opportunities in skill development, artificial intelligence adoption, and related initiatives. IBM is expected to send a delegation to Assam shortly to further assess collaboration opportunities.
He also met Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, describing the group as a key driver of other investors’ interest in the state. “There is a lot of interest in Assam due to the involvement of the TATA group, which is attracting the investors,” he said.
A key highlight of the Chief Minister’s high-level engagements was a productive roundtable with global leaders from the semiconductor ecosystem, focusing on expanding semiconductor manufacturing and strengthening diversified supply chains in Assam. Senior representatives from Synopsys, Qualcomm, Analogue Devices, Thermo Fisher, Honeywell, and Henkel participated in the discussions.
Sarma noted the strong interest shown by these companies in partnering with Assam and continued a series of high-level meetings with global industry leaders and policymakers to advance Assam’s growth and investment journey.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, the Chief Minister emphasised that India’s economic narrative has shifted from a handful of prominent states to a unified national strength, where every region is now a viable destination for global capital. He noted that the presence of states like Assam at such high-profile international forums signals a departure from traditional investment patterns, showcasing a “whole of nation” approach.
“I think that we got a very good platform to speak about Assam,” Sarma stated. “Earlier, when it came to India, people knew only 4-5 states. But today, when states like Assam come and represent, then I think we talk about the whole of India. We don’t talk about a particular state or region. The very presence of Assam shows that the nation is now talking about the whole of the nation.”
The Chief Minister highlighted that India has evolved beyond its conventional economic hubs, asserting that investment can now be “absorbed or attracted by any state of the country,” as every region possesses unique industrial strengths.
(ANI)
