A BNE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

1. The state has been the forerunner in creating a business regulatory ecosystem to attract investors from across all sectors. What have been the notable achievements in this regard?

With the clarion call of making the state of Assam among the top 5 states in the country by Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma, the Industries and Commerce department embarked on an ambitious journey to create a conducive business ecosystem, freeing investors and businessmen from the maze of regulatory hurdles. A significant step in this direction was the amendment of The Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Act, 2020. It significantly reduced the time taken for various permissions to start a business and removed unnecessary renewals. Furthermore, Assam’s Single Window System for permits and approvals has been ranked amongst the best in the country for providing timely, transparent, and digital permits and permissions.

2. What does the term “Creating Soft Infrastructure today for the Business of Tomorrow” that is being used in many of the EoDB-related collaterals mean?

In Assam, ease of doing business is a movement. A movement to establish a digital, transparent, and time-bound system for permits and approvals for investor facilitation. The role of the government in providing the necessary infrastructure for hassle-free ease of doing business is the key to the economic growth of the state. As such, creating and developing a digital ecosystem is the call of our time. Such infrastructure not only instills confidence in the minds of the investors but also cuts the age-old red tape and complexities of the government approval systems. Soft infrastructure provides a platform to a business wherein interactions with the government become seamless and hassle-free. The Single Window System provides the facility to all investors, both new and existing, to apply for necessary permits, approvals, renewals, etc online without any physical touchpoints. This has significantly reduced the procedures, time, and cost of doing business in Assam. We aim to be one of the model states in India to be recognized globally for creating such soft infrastructure and facilitating business.

3. Reforms and rationalization are the buzzwords today. How has Assam contributed to this movement?

It is very important and essential for any government to measure the effectiveness of initiatives implemented. As such, each reform and business process reengineering of the procedures that the government has undertaken must be benchmarked and improved upon. The essence of any reform is to rationalize, simplify, and reduce the permits and approval ecosystem so that it becomes seamless for businesses to comply with them. The aim is to create the soft infrastructure on the basis of good faith. Hence, self-declarations, auto-renewals, etc are the cornerstone of the success for such reengineering. It is not just a mere process of digitization but making the entire process simpler for businesses and citizens, which can be done through the collection of only basic information and minimal documents. The decriminalization of minor offenses, the removal of redundant rules, and the repeal of archaic laws will eventually establish the intent of the minimum government and maximum governance as envisaged by the government.

4. Please tell us about the future initiatives that are being undertaken by the government of Assam to further the cause of Ease of Doing Business

The Government of Assam is fully committed to creating a world-class business ecosystem for ease of doing business. Various new initiatives are under consideration, like the introduction of a brand new grievance and feedback module in the Single Window System, which will not only help resolve grievances better but also provide valuable insights for the development of a robust system. A new GIS-enabled land management system for ease of land application, impact analysis and cost-benefit analysis of all existing and new rules and regulations, and the introduction of advanced technologies like AI, Machine Learning, etc. in departments for seamless service and user experience are some of the other key forays in improving the EoDB ecosystem in the state. We hope that in the coming years, Assam will be among the top investment destinations in the country backed by a framework of next-generation investment promotion and facilitation technologies.