Tuesday, 17 June 2025
The Government of Assam and the World Bank have renewed their commitment to driving agricultural reforms and attracting investment in the state. During a high-level meeting, both parties discussed the upcoming phase of the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), emphasizing agricultural modernization, farmer empowerment, and increased private sector participation
A World Bank delegation, led by Farbod Youseffi, Senior Agribusiness Specialist (South Asia) and Task Team Leader for APART, along with Andrew Goodland, Lead Agriculture Specialist for India and Afghanistan, took part in the high-level discussions. The meeting also saw the participation of the State Project Director of the ARIAS Society.
Aligning with India’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the discussions emphasized the importance of adopting innovative technologies and sustainable agricultural practices in Assam. The World Bank representatives noted that the next phase of the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) offers a critical opportunity for transformative growth, especially through the encouragement of private sector investment.
Farbod Youseffi underlined the potential for greater private sector engagement, pointing out that bringing in private capital could help scale up innovation and expand agribusiness activities across the state.
The Assam government reaffirmed its dedication to deepening collaboration with the World Bank in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness, and commercial development. Officials expressed keen interest in launching a new agriculture-centric project that would build upon the achievements of APART. The preliminary concept for this proposed initiative will be presented to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for further guidance, with the World Bank committing its full support for the project’s design and execution.
Discussions also emphasized the need for a strategic approach to ensure alignment between ongoing efforts and upcoming initiatives. The meeting explored opportunities to involve youth in the agricultural sector through the use of innovative tools and technologies.
