Delhi Event report
Indo-French Investment Conference Northeast: Spotlight Assam
IFCCI Hosts First-Ever Indo-French Investment Conference Northeast in Guwahati on 3rd November 2025.
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The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI), in association with the Embassy of France in India and Government of Assam successfully hosted the Indo-French Investment Conference Northeast: Spotlight Assam on 3rd November 2025 in Guwahati, marking a milestone in strengthening Indo-French economic ties and unlocking the potential of India’s Northeast.
The event opened with remarks by Ms. Rishika Roy, Deputy Director – North, IFCCI, emphasizing growing French investor confidence and India’s vision for an inclusive, sustainable Northeast.
The event was held in the esteemed presence of:
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon’ble Union Minister, Ministry of Development of North-East Region (DoNER)
H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India
Shri Bimal Borah, Hon’ble Minister, Industries, Commerce & PE, Government of Assam
Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Development of North-East Region (DoNER)
A major highlight was the signing of five Letters of Intent (LOIs) between French firms — Axens Global Engineering, Cooperl, Dassault Systèmes, SYSTRA, and POMA — and regional authorities, aimed at fostering industrial growth, technology exchange, and job creation.
Hon’ble Minister Shri. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia described this collaboration as a “new grammar for growth — where innovation meets inclusion and progress meets purpose.” He highlighted the immense potential for Indo-French partnerships in key sectors such as data centres, railways, textiles, food processing, and perfumery, noting that the Northeast stands on the threshold of transformative development. Echoing this sentiment, H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou reaffirmed France’s commitment to the region, describing it as “a region of immense promise — rich in talent, resources, and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, remarked that “IFCCI's first-ever Investment Conclave in the North-East marks a milestone in our mission to bridge regions, businesses, and opportunities between India and France.”
The conference featured two thought-provoking panel discussions:
Assam at the Crossroads of Trade & Innovation — featuring senior officials and industry leaders discussing innovation, sustainable growth, and the Indo-French Year of Innovation 2026.
The Next Frontier: Unlocking Investment Potential Across Sectors — highlighting policies and infrastructure positioning the Northeast as India’s next business hub.
In a special State presentation, Dr. J.B. Ekka outlined Assam’s unique advantages as India’s “Gateway to Southeast Asia” and presented the state’s roadmap for attracting international investments through improved logistics, connectivity, and energy infrastructure.
The conference also featured a series of insightful industry presentations:
- Mr. Benjamin Fauchier Delavigne, Director of Public Affairs – Head of Sales Asia, POMA, shared the company’s successful projects in the Northeast, including installations in Bhaleydunga and Pelling (Sikkim) and ongoing work in Shillong (Meghalaya).
- Dr. Priyanka Rajkakati, Space Scientist & Artist and Head of Business Export at vorteX-io, delivered special remarks on the RiVeins Initiative, reflecting on her journey from the Northeast to France and her vision for cross-border innovation.
- Ms. Lise Breuil, Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD India), presented “Sustainability in Action: Indo-French Engagement and Partnerships in the North-East,” highlighting key initiatives such as the Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) – Phase II, and emphasizing the need for continued collaboration in sustainable development.
Mr. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, Government of India, in his special remarks, emphasized that clean energy, education, and digital innovation play a pivotal role in advancing the region’s inclusive growth. He highlighted that climate-smart development and economic preservation are essential pillars of the North East’s progress, reflecting values that resonate with France’s global leadership in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
During the event, Mr. Bimal Borah, Hon’ble Minister of Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprises, Government of Assam, highlighted that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam - Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam is rapidly emerging as the growth engine of Eastern India. He outlined key initiatives and investments driving the state’s rise as a hub for clean energy, manufacturing, and innovation, and emphasized Assam’s strategic role as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and its growing partnership with France in promoting sustainable, inclusive development.
The conference concluded with Mr. Pierre Arnaud Cassin, President of CCE and CEO of Ultraconfidentiel, expressing gratitude for the growing Indo-French collaboration in the Northeast.
The event gathered 120+ delegates — diplomats, policymakers, business leaders, and officials from both nations — to chart a path for sustainable Indo-French growth in the Northeast.
Thanking Event Partners:
- Platinum Partner: Dassault Systèmes India
- Gold Partner: Cooperl
- Silver Partners: POMA, SYSTRA
- Supporting Partners: Embassy of France in India, CCE Inde - French Foreign Trade Advisors
- Knowledge Partner: Khaitan & Co.
- Institutional Partners: Federation of Industry & Commerce of North Eastern Region, Women in Tech India
- Gifting Partner: Green Steps
