At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the session titled ‘Securing a Future-Ready Workforce for the Next Industrial Era,’ highlighting Assam’s initiatives to mitigate global talent shortages through programs like the Assam Skills University and the Skill Development Mission, which focus on industry-led curricula and modular certifications. Emphasizing the necessity for growth that is “fast but fair, advanced but accessible,” he noted Assam’s demographic advantage with a median age of 22.7 years, stating that with appropriate skills, the state could significantly contribute to India’s next growth phase.
Sarma discussed Assam’s integrated planning approach, exemplified by embedding workforce preparation initiatives in Tata’s semiconductor plant project, which aims to leverage technology to enhance rather than displace jobs. This reflects the state’s commitment to skill development tailored to meet the modern industrial landscape.
The panel featured notable participants, including Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma; Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France; Kiva Allgood, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum; and Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan.
Furthermore, CM Sarma held a separate meeting with leading figures from the global semiconductor industry, alongside Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Prominent industry leaders from companies such as Synopsys, Qualcomm, Analog Devices, Thermo Fisher, Honeywell, and Henkel were present. Sarma also met with Gary Cohn, Vice Chairman of IBM, urging him to explore potential investment opportunities in Assam. He expressed optimism about a forthcoming evaluation team from IBM to visit Guwahati focused on exploring avenues in skill development, artificial intelligence adoption, and other initiatives.
