“We proposed the Chief Minister to avail the services of Senior Expert Service (SES), an agency comprising experts of all fields, and the Chief Minister was pretty excited about it and assured us that the Government of Assam would get in touch with German Consul General in Kolkata,” said Winkler.

Winkler said though they did not promise any funds for Assam, they promised help in some sectors where Germany could provide its expertise. According to reliable sources, the group which evinced keen interest is in the sectors such as infrastructure development, education, youth development, tourism and waste management of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation.

Being strategically located and surrounded by countries like China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan, the members of the delegation feel the improvement in Indo-China relationship augurs well for the State in particular and the region as a whole. “It is against this backdrop of positive development, we are visiting the State and are hoping to see the State reaping economic benefits in the long run,” said one of the German parliamentarians.

Guenter Wehrmann, German Consul General in Kolkata, who was also a part of the delegation, disclosed to Eastern Panorama about plans on the anvil to organize a meeting of the Indo-German Chambers of Commerce in Guwahati this year. “The purpose behind it is to facilitate interactions between German companies and Assam-based firms.”

An elated Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told Eastern Panorama that his office would be in constant touch with the German Consul General in Kolkata to get Germany’s help in setting up an institute of civil and structural engineering and also in getting assistance in combating floods and irrigation problems.

The delegates also met GMC Commissioner Rajesh Prasad and discussed ways to develop the city, particularly roads, solid waste treatment and public transport system.

According to sources, the group was highly impressed with the comprehensive masterplan for Guwahati metropolitan area 2025 focusing on balanced and sustained growth of economy and infrastructure that will enable the city to become one of the most admired state capitals of the country and also fulfill its role as the gateway to the Northeast and Southeast Asia.