Asom wooing Rs 30,000 crore investment

Guwahati, Sep 29 (UNI) Asom is wooing investment to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore, from the big corporate houses of India in the hospitality, energy, Information Technology, rural infrastructure sectors, among others.

This was stated by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi after returning from a business investment summit meeting with the captains of Indian Industry -- the Tatas, Ambanis and Dhoots.

''I am definitely expecting at least 15 to 30 per cent of investment from them and if I can pursue well I am expecting more'' he said while talking to reporters.

An initial investment of Rs 450-500 crore is certain and that will come through the hospitality sector with the Tatas set to open budget hotels, and Reliance going in for large scale alternative energy production.

In Mumbai, the Chief Minister met officials of Infrastructure Leasing&Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), one of India's leading infrastructure development and finance companies. The company has set aside Rs 10,000 crore for the development of Guwahati city, including the city's drainage, sewerage, water supply and roads.

''We have decided to have a joint venture between the State Government and IL&FS,'' Mr Gogoi announced.

The Chief Minister, who met Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani, said Reliance wants to go ''a big way'' for bio-diesel generation in the state, including setting up of jatropha plantations.

RIL has also expressed interest in going for rural infrastructure development projects in a big way. ''The farmers will be benefited,'' said Gogoi, adding that the state Government has set its sight on doubling the income of farmers. A committee, comprising Dhiren Barthakur and Tapan Dutta, has already submitted a report on how to go about this task.

More UNI MT KK RA SSC1352