Guwahati, July 16 2022: Top industry leaders, state government officials, and entrepreneurs attended the first Northeast Business Conclave organised by Business Northeast, where they agreed that business news should be given greater prominence and space.
The Northeast Business Conclave, held on July 16, drew over 250 attendees and was well received by everyone. The conclave is the first of its type in the whole North East, and it may be the first time that industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and specialists have met on one platform.
The event was graced by Hon’ble Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Shri Biswajit Daimary as the Chief Guest, who spoke on the importance of having a business mindset and how Northeast has the capacity to compete in the market.
With the touch of an i-pad, he formally launched the website of Business Northeast, the region's first and only business platform.
The colloquium featured four panel discussions with notable speakers from their respective industries on oil, gas & energy, banking and finance, manufacturing, and emerging sectors and their relevance in North East India.
Former Numaligarh Refinery Limited Managing Director Shri S K Barua, as a part of the first panel discussion on relevance of Oil, Gas & Energy Sector towards the entrepreneurial sector of the region, emphasised the importance of giving more space to business news by stating, "In the Northeast, business news receives relatively little coverage in the media. How much time do we devote to business discussions? However, it is noteworthy to note that business drives the economy in the region to a considerable extent.” He praised Business Northeast for seizing this opportunity early on by developing a website focused on business news on their social media channels. Several other presenters remarked on the need of having business news from India's Northeastern area, stating the current market occurrences, competitiveness, and potential from the background to the foreground.
Shri S Abbasi, IAS, Addl Chief Secretary and Dr Lakshmanan S, IAS, Secretary Industries, along with a few more senior Assam Government Officials, discussed how the state is luring investments through different policies and incentives. Utpal Barua, Chief Airport Officer of Guwahati International Airport from Adani Group, gave an excellent presentation on the need of a give-and-take relationship between airport and business. "Both require assistance and support from one another," he remarked. He discussed the plans for future expansion of the Guwahati Airport, which is presently managed by the Adani Group. A presentation by CEO GMDA Shri Kausar Jamil Hilaly, ACS on what Assam needs to attract investment was thought-provoking.
While addressing on the execution and relevance of scrappage policy in Assam at the colloquium, Assam Transport Secretary Shri Adil Khan, IAS stated that Assam is the first state in the country to develop a complete Vehicle Scrappage Policy.
Speakers on the oil and gas sector discussed how it may assist North East's MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs. They discussed Assam's oil and gas network, as well as the CNG sector, which would witness expansion in the state. Oil India Limited gave a presentation on the green hydrogen industry.
Shri G Ramesh, Executive Director and State Head of Indian Oil, discussed the numerous methods in which entrepreneurs might set up gas stations as well as participate in other projects.
There were interesting conversations about the MSME and banking sectors, as well as the problems that entrepreneurs face.
Shri K. Moses Chalai, IAS, Secretary of the North Eastern Council, spoke about the Council's projects. Small Industries Development Bank of India's Deputy General Manager Pradeep Kumar Nath spoke about how the bank is aiding the needs and requirements of entrepreneurs and how the procedure has become hassle-free and simple.
Speakers also discussed how technology is transforming the financial sector. Finally, the discussion on growing industries focused on the need of having local vendors. Speakers from the health, start-up, food processing, and handloom industries discussed the immense potential in the Northeast and how it may be realised. Shri Pranjal Konwar, CEO of Assam Startup Nest, spoke about the amazing job done by tea start-ups.
The conclave also encouraged the burgeoning entrepreneurial network and how women entrepreneurs are making their mark in today's world. CEOs of entrepreneurial platforms like KA Designs and Wommaniaas were two such platforms that spoke about women entrepreneurship and highlighted their enormous potential to lead tomorrow's development.
The conclave concluded on a positive note, with plans to organise more business-focused conclaves in the future. The goal envisioned by business-northeast was brilliantly presented in front of the prestigious audience.
Furthermore, in addition to the Distinguished Chief Guest, Hon’ble Speaker Assam Legislative Assembly Shri Biswajit Daimary and Guest of Honor, Secretary Industries Dept. Govt of Assam Dr. Laxmanan S, IAS, GMDA CEO, Kausar J Hilaly ACS, Commissioner & Secretary Transport Dept Assam Adil Khan IAS & CAO Adani Group, LGBI Airport as guest speakers, Additional Chief Secretary Govt. of Assam, Syedain Abbassi IAS as Keynote Speaker, SK Baruah, Mukul Gogoi, Geetima Das Krishna, Dr. Sriparna Baruah as moderators, along with Prasanta Borkakoty, G Ramesh, Manoj Baruah, Ajoy KR Bhattacharyya, Bibhu Bhuyan, K Moses Chalai, Pradeep Kumar Nath, Sudip Bandyopadhay, Sazzad Alam, Subhash Agrwal, Pradeep Purohit, Nikhil Mittal, Dr. Samir Baruah, Brig. RK Singh, Rajiv Ashok, Pranjal Konwar, Samrat Deka, Jyotishman Dutta, Mukul Chandra Gogoi as the panelists for the the panel discussions.
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