Guwahati, Jun 3 (PTI) Assam with its strategic location can serve as the gateway to the south-east Asian markets and has emerged as a preferred investment destination, Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said on Wednesday.

The state is at the centre of the south-east Asia which envisions strengthening of trade links and people-to- people ties between India and the ASEAN countries, he said in a webinar interaction with members of a European Business Group.

Also Read | Gati Cyclone to Be Next After Nisarga; How it Got Its Name and What It Means.

During the interaction, Krishna highlighted the state's main sectors such as agriculture, tea, petrochemicals, oil and gas, energy, tourism and food processing.

He showcased Assam as a favourable investment destination, while interacting with ambassadors to India and commercial counsellors.

Also Read | What Does Cyclone Landfall Mean? Here's Your Glossary For Jargons Related to Cyclonic Storm.

The chief secretary pointed out that the European Union is India's largest trading partner accounting for EUR 80 billion worth of goods trade in 2019.

Industries and Commerce Department commissioner and secretary K K Dwivedi presented advantages of Assam in terms of its connectivity, natural resources, skilled workforce, institutions of higher learning, investor-friendly policies and ease of business among others.

European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) Director Poul V Jensen requested for an institutional mechanism for meaningful engagement for mutual benefits.

The webinar was conducted by the state Industries and Commerce Department and facilitated by EBG Federation, India which aims at promoting Europe as India's preferred business partner.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)