Davos, January 22
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been making waves at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, highlighting Assam's potential as a semiconductor investment hub.
He met with global giants like IBM, Synopsys, and Qualcomm, emphasising Assam's readiness with policy clarity, infrastructure, and a skilled workforce
Speaking to ANI 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 focuses on Assam's strategic advantages, including its position as India's fastest-growing state and its role as a gateway to the Northeast. He's exploring collaborations in semiconductors, green energy, and tourism, with potential investments worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore.
Sarma, on his third day at the WEF 2026, 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 and described 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 meetings 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 companies including Synopsys, Qualcomm, Analogue Devices, Thermo Fisher, Honeywell and Henkel participated in the discussions.
The Chief Minister noted the strong interest shown by these companies in partnering with Assam.
The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, continued his intensive engagements on the third day of the WEF 2026 at Davos, holding 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, Sarma 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 the country has evolved beyond its conventional economic hubs, asserting that India is now in a position where investment can be " absorbed or attracted by any state of the country," as every region now possesses unique industrial strengths.
- ANI
Reader Comments
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.