MP CM's Mumbai trip aims to boost industrialisation

Mumbai, Aug 10 (UNI) In the wake of successful firming up of plentiful overseas and domestic investment in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today made yet another significant foray at the country's commercial capital to rope in more investors.

The Chief Minister, along with state Commerce and Industry Minister Babulal Gaur, participated in a marathon interactive session with a host of major players drawn from software and IT-enabled services, cement and automobile manufacturing, infrastructure including power generation medicine and mobile communication More than 300 delegates including representatives of Reliance, Godrej, ACC, Essar, Procter and Gamble, Birla Group, Eicher Motors, Grasim and Prism Cement were among those present.

Mr Chouhan apprised the industrialists of the range of benefits that could accrue from investing in Madhya Pradesh, besides seeking to allay apprehension.

Assisted by a battery of officers concerned, he sorted out so-called irritants across the table and acquainted himself with their requirements.

Officials claimed that the government-industrialists meet evoked overwhelming response, keeping in view the one-to-one session that stretched from 0900 hrs to 1100 hrs. It was a unique opportunity for the Madhya Pradesh government and industrialists to exchange information and come closer, they added.

The deliberations were considered a prelude to a Global Investors' Summit at Indore on October 26 and 27, with expected participation from several industry leaders, from both within and outside the country.

According to the officials, this exercise was part of the agenda to translate the state's Vision 2008 into development before the state goes to the hustings next year. The prime objective is to raise the living standard of the common man.

With the state flooded with a record number of industrial investment proposals to the tune of Rs two lakh crore during the last three-and-a-half years of BJP rule, Mr Gaur said that investment of Rs 20,000 crore was already in place while the remaining Rs 1.80 lakh crore was expected by end of next year.

''This shows that we are in stride and have chanced upon the right track of development,'' he said.

The Minister said that the entrepreneurs were convinced the state's economy was in the ascent phase, promising bright industrial prospects.

Besides maintaining political stability, he said that the state offered conductive conditions for industrial growth, particularly in infrastructure mainly power.

UNI