US Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Tuesday evening called on Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the latter’s office chamber in Assam Secretariat and discussed on wide spectrum of issues concerning the mutual interests of the United States and Assam.
The duo discussed US-Assam’s mutual interests in investment, tourism, education and green energy, inland water transport, among others. Hailing Assam’s prolific tea industry, sumptuous tourism potential and possibility of green energy generation, the US Ambassador said that there are lots of investment possibilities in these sectors and the US has been keenly watching these sectors to strengthen its ties with Assam.
Richard Verma also invited a delegation from Assam to the US Regional Connectivity Conference to be held in Kolkata on December 14 and 15. Assam chief minister Sonowal accepted the invitation with an assurance that a strong delegation will be sent to the conference to further mutual ties.
The US Ambassador to India also hailed the state government’s role in improving the security scenario in the state and vowed to increase mutual reciprocity programme with Assam. Sonowal apprised Richard Verma of the state’s potentials in the fields of tourism and hospitality industry, organic farming, small scale hydro-electricity, information technology etc. where the scope of mutual reciprocity can be used to harness these sectors.
Minister for information and technology Keshab Mahanta, agriculture minister Atul Bora, minister for sports and youth welfare Naba Kumar Doley, chief secretary VK Pipersenia, US consul general Kolkata Craig L. Hall were present at the meeting.
