In a landmark move to strengthen economic ties and drive industrial growth in India’s Northeast, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) on Tuesday hosted the first Indo-French Investment Conference in Guwahati. The event saw five Letters of Intent (LoIs) signed between French companies and regional authorities, signalling long-term investment plans aimed at creating thousands of jobs by 2030. Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou, Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Borah and DoNER Secretary Chanchal Kumar attended the conference. The initiative was organised in association with the Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) with support from Northeast state governments.
French firms including DassaultSystèmes, POMA, Cooperl, Axens Global Engineering and Systra explored collaborations across energy, infrastructure, defence, ITeS, agriculture, food processing and higher education. Over 100 delegates, including diplomats, French Foreign Trade Advisors and senior corporate leaders, participated in the B2G sessions. In Guwahati, business leaders welcomed the initiative, noting that foreign investments can accelerate local industry, technology adoption and manufacturing. Stakeholders in the city’s commercial sector expressed optimism that such partnerships could strengthen Assam’s industrial supply chain and enhance export opportunities across food processing, textiles and engineering services.
Calling the Northeast the “threshold of transformative growth,” Scindia said the collaboration marks a new phase in Indo-French ties. Ambassador Mathou reaffirmed France’s commitment to innovation-led regional development, while IFCCI DG Payal S. Kanwar termed the event a “new chapter” in bilateral economic cooperation.