MP has industry-friendly climate, says CM

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today called upon industrialists to invest in his state and promised the investors an industry-friendly climate, administrative efficiency and political will to bring about radical changes.

Addressing a function jointly organised by the State Government and the FICCI here, he said realising the need for better infrastructure to promote industry, 18 km of road was being laid every day. In the last two years, 17,000 km road had already been constructed and the budget for this had gone up by 103 per cent. He also assured 24 hours power supply for the industrial sector.

Expressing confidence about the industrial potential of Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Minister said it was one of the States in which octroi had been abolished. Agri Parks and Agri Export Zones would soon make his state a leader in agro-processing.

Referring to the arrangement for a single-desk clearance for investment in the state, Mr Chouhan said a project clearance and implementation board had been established under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to expedite all matters relating to the establishment of industries and deal with problems faced by the industrial community.

To sanction mega projects, there would be a committee headed by himself, the Chief Minister added.

Mr Chouhan assured the industrialists that there was no labour problem and there were no loss of mandays.

The Chief Minster informed that Rs 85,000 crores worth of investment proposals were under consideration. Investments had been made in the power generation, petrochemicals, engineering and minerals, agro food processing, pharmaceuticals and chemicals sectors. Approximately Rs 22000 crores worth of projects were in the pipeline.

Quoting the recent CMIE report,the Chief Minister claimed that companies based in Madhya Pradesh had better sales-to-expenses ratio than most other northern states and it was also above the national average.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched a website www.destinationmadhyapradesh.com, a precursor to the Global Investors Summit to be held on January 4 and 5.

UNI YS MSJ GC2010