MP govt promises bonanza for investors

Khajuraho, MP, Jan 16 (UNI) Promising a veritable bonanza for prospective investors, the Madhya Pradesh government today rolled out a red carpet and managed to net in comprehensive investment proposals besides signing of MoU.

Addressing the 'Investors Meet-2007' at this world-renowned tourist destination, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, ''suitable policy changes will be effected to suit the investment climate. Red-tapism will not come in the way and a single-table system will be put in place at the NRI Facilitation Centre.'' The first event of its kind is being held in the backdrop of the erotic sculpture on temples dating back to the erstwhile Chandela era -- 10th century AD.

About 125 entrepreneurs including NRIs from the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan and the Gulf are attending the two-day meet whose inaugural session took place at the Holiday Inn.

The highlights of the day included a Malaysian industrialist's proposal to set up an aviation-training academy, a Rs 963-crore textile unit at Budhni that would employ about 2,000 people, Basmati cultivation near Hoshangabad and a Rs 60-crore software unit aimed at employing roughly 1,000 people.

Principal Secretary (Industry) O P Rawat indicated that the investors and entrepreneurs had evinced interest to plough in about Rs 40,000 crore in power, textile, information technology, business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and the construction sector.

The Chief Minister promised that a land pool would be developed to cater to investors' needs and adequate infrastructure would be in place.

Holding out that immense potential existed in the education sphere, he offered to provide free plots ranging from an acre upwards to ten acres for setting up schools or colleges in the backward and tribal-dominated areas.

Airports would be brought up to international standards for improved connectivity.

''Gurgaon and Singur are not likely to be replayed in Madhya Pradesh where industrial peace prevails,'' Mr Chouhan said.

Herbs, food-processing, mining and tourism are thrust areas for investment, he added.

During a question-answer session, Chicago-resident NRI businessman Riyazuddin sought information about the current power situation and blue-print for increasing power generation.

California's liquor manufacturer Avtar Sandhu sought information about the wine policy, tourism and hydel power, while another US-based NRI lady wanted to know about legal outsourcing.

Chief Secretary Rakesh Sahani said that the government had given full attention to power sector. ''The state would become not merely self-sufficient in terms of power by 2008 but generate surplus electricity,'' he claimed.

UNI