Maharashtra can be the economic zone of India: Deshmukh

Mumbai, Sept 7 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said that the whole of Maharashtra could become the economic zone of India and urged industrialists to look beyond the Mumbai-Pune-Thane-Nasik belt, and go to rural areas for industrialisation.

Speaking at the centenary year celebration of the Indian Merchants Chamber here, Mr Deshmukh said that the state government would accord the 'red carpet' welcome to all entrepreneurs going into rural areas.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Deshmukh said the nation's father had stressed for the all-round development of villages.

Maharashtra has got a good infrastructure with power, roads, information technology and has got maximum special economic zones.

He said, according a Reserve Bank of India report the state is at it's 'numero uno' position with the highest investment intentions.

IMC has made a significant contribution for development in the country by maintaining connections with different overseas chambers and was trying hard to make India a leader in the era of globalisation, he added.

Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Dr Shakeel Ahmed, released a postal stamp on the occasion to honour IMC for the completion of a centenary and said that the chamber was a catalyst for the promotion of trade and industry .

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