Guwahati, Jan 22: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said India’s tea industry needs to actively expand into new export markets as geopolitical tensions disrupt traditional trade routes, even as Assam positions itself as an emerging destination for high-value investments in technology and manufacturing at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Sarma noted that countries such as Russia and Iran have historically been major buyers of Assam tea, but current global uncertainties have made exports to these regions more difficult. He described the situation as temporary but stressed the urgency of diversification. Highlighting the strong brand recall of Assam tea, particularly in Russia, he said the changing global environment made it essential to look beyond established markets. According to him, proposed free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union have arrived at a crucial moment for the Indian tea industry, offering fresh opportunities for expansion.
Beyond agriculture, the Chief Minister used the Davos platform to showcase Assam’s ambitions in the semiconductor and technology sectors. Over the course of the summit, he held discussions with several leading global companies across the semiconductor value chain, including IBM, Synopsys and Qualcomm. Sarma said Assam had engaged with almost all major players in the ecosystem during the past few days, reflecting growing international interest in the state.
A separate meeting with IBM Vice President Gary Cohn focused on potential collaboration in areas such as skill development, artificial intelligence and technology adoption. Sarma said IBM is expected to send a delegation to Assam in the near future to explore opportunities on the ground. He also met Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran, describing the conglomerate’s growing footprint in Assam as a major factor in attracting wider investor attention to the state.
One of the key engagements at Davos was a roundtable discussion with senior executives from global firms including Synopsys, Qualcomm, Analogue Devices, Thermo Fisher, Honeywell and Henkel. The talks centred on expanding semiconductor manufacturing in Assam and building resilient, diversified supply chains. Sarma said the discussions reflected strong interest in partnerships and long-term collaboration.
Reflecting on India’s evolving investment landscape, the Chief Minister said the country was no longer seen through the lens of a handful of states. He argued that the participation of states like Assam at global platforms demonstrated a more inclusive growth model, where every region has the ability to attract investment. According to him, this shift represents a “whole of nation” approach, with states across India now playing an active role in driving economic development.
