Insurgency effecting investment, but situation improving: Gogoi

Guwahati, Apr 19 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today admitted that although insurgency is keeping investment away from the state, the current response from investors is encouraging.

Addressing a press meet here, Mr Gogoi said, ''The problem of insurgency remains, we must admit it. However, response from investors for setting up units in Asom and the Northeast has been very encouraging in the recent past.'' He was elaborating on the meetings with the big companies, during the NE Business Summit in New Delhi and the investors' meet at Kolkata over the past fortnight.

He also informed that many major groups, like ITC, Williamson Magor and others, have shown interest in investing in the state in a large-scale.

He pointed out incentives and subsidies under the new industrial policy for the NE, which had been extended to the entire region and covers almost all industries and sectors, has helped in attracting investors to the region.

''We have been able to convince them of the profitability in investing in the region and many big groups would soon come in,'' he added.

Mr Gogoi underlined that Emami and Hindustan Lever, among others, which already have units here are making profits, and with even the PSUs in the state are doing good.

''If government units can make profit here, private companies would be able to make even more,'' he added.

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