NEW DELHI, May 31 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday held three back-to-back meetings with Union ministers Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar and Sarbananda Sonowal, and discussed with them various issues related to the state’s development.
In his meeting with Defence Minister Singh, Sarma discussed ways to position Assam as a key player in the country’s defence ecosystem.
In his meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar, the chief minister discussed ways to strengthen the Centre’s Act East Policy while exploring Assam’s potential role in enhancing trade and tourism ties with neighbouring countries.
Sarma’s meeting with Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sonowal focused on accelerating the state’s development journey under the vision of a ‘Viksit Assam’.
The chief minister said it is always enriching to meet Singh and lauded his experience as an administrator, public servant and party worker.
“He is a powerhouse of wisdom and knowledge. We have so much to learn from his vast experience as an excellent administrator, a dedicated public servant and a veteran karyakarta,” he said.
Sarma also thanked Singh for his campaign efforts during the Assam Assembly elections and sought his blessings and guidance for the state’s future development.
He discussed with Singh the need to position Assam as a major player in the defence sector in the years ahead, in line with the state’s growing focus on industrial development and strategic infrastructure, an official statement said.
The meeting comes amid the Centre’s push to strengthen defence manufacturing and enhance indigenous production capabilities under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, it said.
“Met with the Chief Minister of Assam, Shri @himantabiswa ji in New Delhi. I am confident that he will continue the good governance trajectory of Assam and fulfil people’s aspirations. My best wishes to him for another successful tenure ahead,” Singh said on X after the meeting.
In his meeting with Jaishankar, Sarma discussed ways to strengthen the Centre’s Act East Policy while exploring Assam’s potential role in enhancing trade and tourism ties with neighbouring countries.
Sarma described the interaction as insightful and said Jaishankar’s perspective on global affairs and India’s approach to current geopolitical challenges is always enlightening.
“This morning, I had the pleasure to call upon Hon’ble External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar ji. His perspective on global affairs and how India is navigating current geopolitical headwinds is always enlightening,” he said in a post on X.
Sarma said he thanked the EAM for sharing his insights on further strengthening India’s Act East Policy, a key initiative aimed at deepening India’s engagement with countries in Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The chief minister also expressed hope for continued guidance from Jaishankar on how Assam can contribute to strengthening trade and tourism linkages with neighbouring nations, leveraging the state’s strategic location as a gateway to the northeast and Southeast Asia, an official statement said.
“Pleased to meet Assam Chief Minister @himantabiswa. Congratulated him on the impressive election victory. Assured fullest support for Assam’s further growth and development,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The discussions come amid ongoing efforts to boost regional connectivity, cross-border commerce and economic cooperation under the Act East framework, with Assam expected to play an increasingly important role in advancing these objectives, the statement said.
During his meeting with Sonowal, Sarma held discussions on accelerating the state’s development journey under the vision of a ‘Viksit Assam’.
Sarma said every interaction with Sonowal was an opportunity to deliberate on the future of Assam and review the state’s progress.
“Every meeting with Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Dangoriya is an opportunity to discuss and deliberate on building a #ViksitAssam. Today’s meeting with him in Delhi was no different — one where we discussed the progress made in the last decade and how to accelerate Assam’s growth journey,” Sarma said.
Sonowal said he was glad to meet Sarma and they had a productive discussion on strengthening the development roadmap of the state.
“#TeamAssam is committed to ensuring a continuous era of peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.
The meeting focused on reviewing developmental gains achieved over the past 10 years and exploring strategies to further strengthen Assam’s economic growth, infrastructure development and overall progress.
Both leaders are understood to have exchanged views on key initiatives aimed at transforming Assam into a developed and prosperous state, an official statement said.
The interaction reflects the continued coordination between the state and the Centre in advancing developmental priorities and realising the vision of a ‘Viksit Assam’, it said. (PTI)
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