Himanta showcases investment opportunities in Singapore, meets deputy PM Yong

Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while in Singapore on Wednesday, called on its deputy prime minister Gan Kim Yong, emphasising Assam's pivotal role in the India-ASEAN growing partnership and the govt's focus on establishing the state as a hub for semiconductors, skilling, green energy, and innovation-driven industries.
"It was a delight to meet the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Minister of Trade and Industry H.E Gan Kim Yong. I highlighted Assam's endeavours to be at the core of the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through greater collaboration in the emerging knowledge economy, semiconductor, skilling, and green energy. Grateful for his commitment to deepening the existing relationship between the State of Assam and the Republic of Singapore," Sarma wrote on ‘X'.
He advocated for enhanced collaboration between Assam and the Republic of Singapore in semiconductors, skills, and green energy sectors. On the second day of his three-day Singapore tour to attract investors for the upcoming Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, to be held later this month, Sarma attended a roadshow and addressed more than 200 business leaders from various sectors, extending invitations to explore the state's diverse opportunities.
Sarma outlined his vision of ‘New Assam', highlighting its strategic location, single-window clearance, tailored incentives, robust law and order, and skilled workforce. He underscored the robust India-Singapore relationship, noting bilateral trade of $35.6 billion in 2023-24, with Singapore being India's 6th largest trading partner. Observing Singapore's investor community's keen interest in Assam's advantages, Sarma presented the state's projected GSDP of 143 billion dollars, 12.2 billion dollars for infrastructure revamp, daily construction of 15 kilometres of roads, and a 6000 MW green energy target.
Sarma engaged in a working lunch with key Singaporean investors and stakeholders, toured AEM Singapore's testing facilities, and discussed TATA's semiconductor facility in Jagiroad. He emphasised Assam's emerging role in Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) and met with Singapore Semiconductor Industries Association leaders. The Chief Minister detailed the govt's ambition to transform Assam into a global semiconductor hub, inviting firms involved in semiconductor manufacturing. He highlighted Assam's extensive skilling initiative, including establishing a World Skill Centre with global collaborators. He acknowledged the participation of various industry leaders from AEM Holdings, Cleantech, Lewe Engineering, STATS Chippac, leaders from SC, Akribis Systems, PEP Innovation, MTI, and Temasek Polytechnic.
Earlier, during a productive breakfast meeting with Singapore's semiconductor industry stakeholders, Sarma discussed future collaborations with representatives from Tata Electronics, Fuji Machine Mfg, Keysight Tech, Nordson Corp, Lintec Corp, Cohu Ink, Ecosoftt, Toppan Photomasks, Singapore Business Federation, and Indian Ocean Group. He visited Silicon Box, engaging with CEO Byung Joon Han and team to explore advanced chip manufacturing processes. The visit concluded with Sarma meeting the Assamese diaspora in Singapore for dinner and dialogue.