Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam has seized the top spot among Northeastern states in NITI Aayog’s inaugural Investment Friendliness Index. Scoring 47.3, the state finished 14th nationally. It sits behind Uttarakhand, which scored 47.5, in the rankings for hilly and northeastern territories.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited the state's rise to stable, industry-friendly policies. He said the state has become one of India's most attractive investment destinations. Beyond policy, the government highlighted improved infrastructure, low interest burdens, and sound financial management.
Assam’s capital expenditure incentives in 2024 hit five times the regional average. The state also dedicated 8% of annual spending to road infrastructure between 2019 and 2024, far outpacing the 3% national average. Education received 18% of the budget during that window, though the creation of a technical workforce still trails national figures.
The NITI Aayog report categorized states based on their investment climates. Assam and Tripura joined the Frontrunners tier. Meghalaya and Nagaland landed as Emerging Performers. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Manipur fell into the Aspiring States category. Nationally, Odisha, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu secured Top Performer status.
Despite the success, the report flagged regional hurdles like logistics bottlenecks and limited industrial infrastructure. It urged states to bolster digital governance and grievance systems. Assam plans to leverage these findings to chase its economic goals. The state remains committed to attracting global capital to fuel employment and growth.
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