[Assam] Telegraph: Gogoi's US trip - science barges

[umesh sharma]

Gogoi reaps   US ‘bonanza’
                     - NRI investors place proposals; American firm keen to set up science barge in Assam                                              A STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati, July 5: An American company that specialises in building science barges — floating urban farms driven by solar power, wind and biofuel and irrigated by rain and purified river water — is jet-setting investor hunter Tarun Gogoi’s catch of the week. 
                                                                                The Assam chief minister wrapped up his tour of the US today with an expression of intent from New York Sun Works in his pocket. The company will set up a science barge in the state just like the one it has built in New York. 
                                                                                A spokesman for the chief minister’s office said Gogoi’s hardsell strategy also impressed American investors. He said several of them expressed interest in tapping businesses ranging from lifestyle heritage homes to non-conventional energy. 
                                                                                Apart from the science barge, New York Sun Works will explore the possibility of setting up a pilot project to generate power from the tidal waves of the Brahmaputra and other rivers. 
                                                                                The spokesman said officials of company — which calls itself an environmental, non-profit organisation — showed the chief minister and his entourage the pilot project that is part of the science barge anchored in New York. Power is generated there through tidal waves of the East river.
                                                                                “In New York, the chief minister met a large number of investors from different sectors like hydrocarbon, power, non-conventional energy, food processing, education, healthcare, tourism, insurance, real estate, IT and discussed the possibilities of them investing in the state,” the spokesman said. 
                                                                                Some of the investors had one-to-one sessions with Gogoi to outline their proposals. Bharat Sahgal of Vedanta Energy Fund placed a proposal to go back to abandoned, low-yield oilfields and extract heavy oils with the help of new technology. 
                                                                                Another non-resident Indian, Jaswant Lalwani, proposed to set up a series of lifestyle heritage homes at “exotic locations” in Assam. These homes, he said, would be for “senior Indian citizens, NRIs and parents of NRIs living in India”. 
                                                                                Karan Trehan, CEO of Ankar Capitals, had a long discussion with the chief minister on developing Assam as an eco-tourism destination. Bobby Avary and Justine Artaega of Tri-Steel International expressed interest in a project to convert municipal solid waste into power and fertilisers. 
                                                                                The chief minister promised to help all the potential investors and gave a PowerPoint presentation on the areas that can be explored and the incentives available under the new North East Industrial Policy.
                                                                                R.S. Jassal, the deputy chief of the Indian Mission in Washington DC, suggested that Dispur organise a Festival of Assam in the US in association with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
                                                                                Apart from meeting investors, Gogoi visited Boston to participate in Assam Convention 2007, organised by the Assam Association of North America. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Gogoi asked the Assamese diaspora to tap the opportunities in their native state.
                                                                           


Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)




www.gse.harvard.edu/iep  (where the above 2 are used )




http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
 		
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