Guwahati: Assam’s first Blue Valley Cluster, an industrial hub focused on flavours, fragrances and AYUSH, was launched on Tuesday in the presence of a high-level European Union delegation and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.Led by Assam govt, the Blue Valley Cluster aligns with priorities outlined in the EU–India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda adopted at the Jan 2026 EU–India Summit. The pilot project aims to create a sustainable industrial cooperation model linking Assam’s biodiversity, innovation and enterprises with international value chains and markets.“The heart of this initiative will be the farmers. They will produce their products, and the European companies, based on our competitiveness, will take back processed or semi-processed materials to their country,” Sarma said.“By strengthening pathways for farmers, women, youth, entrepreneurs and MSMEs to participate in high-value bioeconomy sectors, the initiative aims to promote inclusive livelihoods, skills development and employment generation, while reinforcing Assam’s role as a strategic gateway for sustainable trade, investment and innovation partnerships between the northeast and Europe,” a media release read.The launch coincided with the conclusion of a two-day visit by a high-level Team Europe delegation. Sarma held bilateral talks with Hervé Delphin, ambassador of the European Union to India, in the presence of Sibi George, secretary (west), ministry of external affairs.The CM also hosted a roundtable luncheon with members of the Federation of European Businesses in India (FEBI) and the European delegation to discuss investment opportunities, industrial collaboration, technology partnerships, skilling initiatives and business-to-business engagement.Sarma said Assam sees significant scope for cooperation with the EU in sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, defence, aviation, tea, agarwood, organic foods, natural fragrances and flavours, and AYUSH-based wellness products.Delphin said Assam was emerging as a key economic centre rather than remaining on the geographic periphery of India. “At the core, we want to bring the EU and Indian ecosystems and economies closer. This is at the state level that things will materialise,” he said.“We started today with the Blue Valley Cluster on fragrance, flavours and AYUSH. It’s about a USD 19 billion market in Europe. This is the leading geography for this sector, and Assam is well-positioned to tap into this,” Delphin added.“Assam is blessed with natural resources and human talent. Its trailblazing spirit to embrace innovation in a sustainable and inclusive way and become a major economic hub and a connectivity gateway makes it a destination of choice for companies. The Blue Valleys initiative will serve as a corridor bringing together European and Indian businesses,” he said.To strengthen business ties, Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd and FEBI signed an MoU to promote investment awareness, B2B and B2G linkages, and knowledge exchange. The state government also invited European businesses and institutions, offering policy support, incentives, industrial infrastructure, land and faster approvals to facilitate investments, technology partnerships and skilling initiatives.
