Setting up factory units more cost-effective in MP: CM

Mumbai, Aug 10 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today invited business magnates to invest in the state infrastructure, IT, tourism, biotech and education sectors, while claiming setting up of industrial units in Madhya Pradesh is cost-effective by 21-35 per cent.

The Chief Minister was addressing an Industry Interactive Meet 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.

Mr Chouhan pointed out that the state offered cheaper land, labour, enjoyed a central logistic position, industrial peace, road and rail connectivity, besides, various concessions and facilities provided by the government.

''My government is making concerted efforts to develop industrial infrastructure. It has set a target of becoming self-reliant in power by next year,'' he claimed.

Referring to road-laying, the Chief Minister said that 30,000 km were laid over the past four years and the figure was likely to cross 40,000 by December next year.

Mentioning that the Delhi-Mumbai Corridor would aid industrialists in the state, he added that the Centre cleared inclusion of Madhya Pradesh's Malwa region in the corridor expected to extend upto Pithampur, Dhar and MHOW in the first phase and upto Ratlam and Nagda in the next.

The state's Project Clearance Board has sanctioned, in-principle, proposals of investment of over Rs one lakh crore of which proposals to the tune of Rs 29,000 crore are being implemented.

''Airports at Bhopal and Indore are being expanded to international level,'' Mr Chouhan said while inviting entrepreneurs to a Global Investors' Summit at Indore on October 26 and 27. He called them to benefit from the wealth of opportunity waiting in Madhya Pradesh.

The government has ''streamlined'' the single-window system and ''concretised'' the single-table concept to make the administration more investor-friendly.

Among those present were state Commerce and Industry Minister Babulal Gaur, besides representatives of Procter and Gamble, Prism Cement and Ruchi Soya. The latter expressed desire to expand operations in Madhya Pradesh and also expressed satisfaction over cooperation extended by the government of state that holds tremendous industrial potential.

Former FICCI President Rajendra S Lodha and FICCI Madhya Pradesh President Ramesh Agarwal also explained the opportunities available.

More than 300 delegates including representatives of Reliance, Godrej, ACC, Essar, Procter and Gamble, Birla Group, Eicher Motors, Grasim and Prism Cement were present.

UNI