Dibrugarh, Feb 9 (NationPress) Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that in addition to offering government job opportunities, his government has fostered a new wave of entrepreneurs. He emphasized that entrepreneurship plays a vital role in empowering the youth and driving economic progress in the region.

During the launch of the first installment under the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan 2.0 (CM-AAA 2.0) in Dibrugarh, the Chief Minister distributed seed capital to 10,404 beneficiaries from the districts of Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, and Charaideo at a ceremonial event.

Sarma noted that the state government's persistent initiatives to foster entrepreneurship have unveiled new prospects for Assam's young people.

“While public sector jobs aid in state development, entrepreneurs generate employment opportunities for countless others. Our aim is to transform the youth into job creators,” he asserted.

Under the CM-AAA 2.0 initiative, the state government is set to assist 74,036 aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Assam with a comprehensive budget of Rs 1,482 crore.

Beneficiaries in the general category will receive Rs 2 lakh, while those in the professional category, such as engineers and medical graduates, will be granted Rs 5 lakh without any collateral requirements.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the previous CM-AAA 1.0, launched in September 2023, aided over 25,000 young individuals, many of whom have advanced in their business endeavors.

He mentioned that participants from the initial phase will receive a third installment of Rs 1 lakh by February or early March this year. Sarma also noted that the CM-AAA program facilitates bank connections, enabling about 2,000 beneficiaries to obtain loans up to Rs 10 lakh, with banks expressing interest in extending Mudra loans to thousands more.

Discussing Assam's evolving entrepreneurial landscape, he remarked that MSME registrations on the Udyam portal have surged from 9,371 in 2020 to over 12.75 lakh currently.

Furthermore, he pointed out that banks have disbursed over Rs 30,773 crore in loans to small entrepreneurs as of March 2025.

The Chief Minister also highlighted significant industrial projects, including the Jagiroad semiconductor facility, the Dhubri thermal power station, and the Namrup Methanol and Urea project, which are expected to create substantial direct and indirect job opportunities.

Sarma encouraged local youth to take advantage of these opportunities, asserting that growth driven by entrepreneurship has enhanced livelihoods and accelerated Assam's path toward self-reliance.