Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked the management of IIT Guwahati to develop a "start-up policy" for Assam in order for the state to realise its full potential in the fields of entrepreneurship and economic growth.

He also encouraged IIT Guwahati students to enter the start-up industry after graduating from the renowned university and become "job-creators" rather than "job-seekers."

He was accompanied by Union Minister for External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, who visited the Indian School of Technology Guwahati campus for an interactive session with teachers, academics, and students of the top technical institute.

Speaking to those in attendance, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma emphasised the role IIT Guwahati can play in shaping the government of India's "Act East Policy," which is expected to economically connect the country's north-eastern region with that of South-East Asian nations and provide a much-needed boost to its growth ambitions.

In lauding the significance of IITs in nation-building, the Chief Minister asked everyone involved with it to utilise their skills to strive towards developing a better cyber security regime, in addition to committing research to disaster management, water crises, and other issues in the state.

The Union External Affairs Minister paid a visit to an exhibition at IIT Guwahati that included creative goods and commodities conceptualised, manufactured, and produced by students from the renowned engineering institute's numerous disciplines.