Reliance to invest over INR ₹50,000 crore in Assam's growth

Reliance Industries has announced plans to invest in excess of INR ₹50,000 crore in Assam over the next five years across technology, green energy, consumer goods, retail, and hospitality sectors.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, outlined the company's expanded commitment at the Advantage Assam Summit, highlighting Reliance's intent to drive digital and economic growth in the state. The announcement follows Reliance exceeding its previous investment pledge of INR ₹5,000 crore made at the 2018 summit, with current investments totalling INR ₹12,000 crore.

Ambani set out five priority areas for the proposed investment. "OUR FIRST PRIORITY is to make Assam Tech-Ready and AI-Ready. For us, Assam's digital transformation is a noble and patriotic mission. Jio has made Assam not only 2G-mukt but 5G-yukt. We are very grateful for the people of Assam to adopt Jio with their heart. After building world-class connectivity infrastructure, we will now install high-performance computing infrastructure. Reliance will establish an AI-ready Data Center in Assam, which will benefit... Students with AI assisted TEACHERS. Patients with AI assisted DOCTORS. Agriculture will benefit from AI assisted FARMERS. And AI will help Assam's youth to learn from home and earn from home."

On clean and green energy, Ambani stated, "OUR SECOND PRIORITY is to make Assam a hub of clean and green energy. This will include Nuclear Energy, in line with the Government's new policy to invite private participation in the nuclear industry. And Reliance will build two world-class hubs of Compressed Biogas (CBG) over wastelands in Assam. This will produce 8 lakh tonnes of clean biogas annually, enough to fuel 2 lakh passenger cars every day."

Expanding on Reliance's consumer products initiative, Ambani revealed plans to support agricultural and horticultural value addition. "OUR THIRD PRIORITY is to help Assam become a major supplier of food and non-food consumer products to national and international markets. We will set up a Mega Food Park, which will add value to the abundant agricultural and horticultural produce of Assam. We have already set up a world-class bottling plant in Assam for our Campa Cola and Independence range of packaged drinking water."

On retail expansion, Ambani said, "OUR FOURTH PRIORITY is to double the number of Reliance Retail stores in the state from existing 400 to 800 stores in the next five years."

In the hospitality sector, he remarked, "OUR FIFTH PRIORITY is to boost high-end hotel and hospitality economy in Assam. Reliance will build a luxurious, seven-star Oberoi hotel in the heart of Assam."

These priority investments are expected to have a significant employment impact. Ambani emphasised, "These five mega initiatives will also create tens of thousands of direct and in-direct employment opportunities for the youth in Assam."

Alongside the business investments, Ambani also announced a new corporate social responsibility initiative through the Reliance Foundation. "Today, I am also pleased to announce a philanthropic initiative by Reliance Foundation. Assam has a rich heritage of arts and crafts. It is one of the largest producers of bamboo, which is called 'Green Gold'. And 'Sualkuchi', the center of Assam's famous silk Industry, has the potential to grow manifold in generation of incomes and jobs. Reliance Foundation, together with our 'Swadesh' stores, would like to collaborate with the state government to promote this heritage."

Ambani praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accelerating Assam's growth, saying: "The title of this Summit is Advantage Assam. But the greatest advantage for every Assamese and every Indian is that we are blessed with your visionary leadership. In the past 11 years, you have brought four unique advantages to Assam... You have brought Assam and the rest of North-East from the periphery to the centre of India's developmental map. You have yourself visited the North-East over 70 times ─ more than any other prime minister in the past."

He also highlighted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's ambition for the state: "When you recently came to meet me in Mumbai, you said, 'Mukesh bhai, it is not enough that Assam grows at double-digit rate. It should double in size in the shortest time and double again every time. I will not rest until I make Assam a mega economic powerhouse.' Your words convinced me that your vision for the future of Assam is bold and extraordinary. And I said to myself, 'When Assam is setting such an ambitious goal for itself, how can Reliance in the industry stay behind?'"

Ambani concluded with a commitment to continued support for Assam's development, stating: "I conclude by affirming that the possibilities for Assam are Aseem, they are limitless. I assure our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the Chief Minister Shri Sarma ji that Reliance will continue to remain a proud and dependable partner in this mission. And I again end with my sincere prayers to Maa Kamakhya to bless us all."