External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, accompanied by Heads of Mission and Ambassadors from 45 countries, embarked on an elephant safari in Kaziranga National Park on Monday ahead of the Advantage Assam summit scheduled in Guwahati on February 25.
Expressing his delight at the growing influx of tourists to the region, Jaishankar said, “I am very happy to see more tourists coming here. We are here for Advantage Assam, heading to Guwahati after this. Our goal is to elevate the profile of Assam and the northeastern states, attracting more international tourists and investors. This is a great start to the day.”
When informed that Kaziranga has recorded its highest tourist inflow, Jaishankar acknowledged the positive trend. “Yes, I know. They were telling me we have already crossed three lakh visitors. This is a good sign. Even the Prime Minister encourages visiting every state because of our country’s abundance of natural and cultural tourism,” he said.
Delegates from participating countries shared their admiration for the park and its wildlife. A representative from Timor-Leste expressed, “It was a privilege to visit Kaziranga and witness wild animals like elephants, rhinos, and tigers. Assam has a tremendous potential to showcase its natural beauty to the world. Observing these animals taught me a valuable lesson about peace — how rhinos and elephants, both known for their strength, coexist harmoniously.”
Another delegate thanked the Ministry of External Affairs and Assam authorities for an unforgettable experience. “This visit will remain a lifelong memory from India. Based in New Delhi, we rarely get the opportunity to immerse ourselves in such natural beauty. I wish the animals here a long and peaceful life,” they said.
The Advantage Assam summit is the state’s largest investment promotion and facilitation initiative, emphasizing Assam’s geostrategic advantages and its potential as a key investment destination. Strategically positioned as the gateway to Northeast India and Southeast Asia, Assam is renowned for its lush tea gardens and petroleum resources. The state is now expanding into sectors such as agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, tourism, and information technology, offering immense opportunities for investors worldwide.
