State to focus on to give boost to Infrastructure" Chouhan

Bangalore, Aug 30 (UNI) To queer the pitch as the ' most preferred destination for investment' the Madhya Pradesh State Government has accorded top priority to step-up infrastructure facilities, its Chief Minister Mr Shivaraj Singh Chouhan, informed here today.

Addressing a one-day interactive meet with the Industrialists to attract more investment into his state the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has said that his state blessed with natural wealth and clean environment throw-up lot of opportunities in the fields of industry, infrastructure, tourism, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Education.

In the one-day meet jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and Madhya Pradesh Trade and Investment Facilitation Corporation (TRIFAC) the Chief Minister Mr Chouhan informed that during the last couple of years the Madhya Pradesh has achieved a turn-around to become one of the best destination for investment in the country.

He said that the state has achieved a distinction of adding more than 2500 MW of power since 2003 and was all set to become a power-efficient state within next two years. "While the rural people were being supplied sufficient electricity without any interruption the Industries were being provided it with subsidised rate".

The state government has constructed over 25000 Kilometer of new roads during last three years by investing over Rs 15000 crores. The state government has created a congenial atmosphere to boost the economy and has made budgetary allocation of Rs 5000 crore for various development works in the current year. "We look forward to an integrated development with creation of employment opportunities" he said.

While rolling out red-carpet to the prospective investors the Chief Minister has informed that state policies on investment in IT sector was one of the best in the country and exhorted them place expression of interest for establishment of IT SEZ's in Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur, the three important cities of the state. "The investment in Madhya Pradesh which was abundant with natural wealth and human resources would derive cost advantage between 20 to 35 per cent as compared to other states to the investors" he said.

Stressing that apart from Power, Mining, Manufacturing the state also offers a rich potential for the establishment of food processing industries. A separate department has been set up and a state policy formulated to encourage and develop food processing industries in the state. "The Agribusiness Destination organised recently in the state over 89 MOUs were signed for investment of Rs 8000 crores" he said.

Mr Chouhan also informed the large gathering of the investors at the meet, that state produces about 18.24 lakh metric tonne fruits and vegetables and one lakh tonne spices and aromatic and medicinal plants. The production of these crops would be doubled by year 2012 under the National Horticulture mission.

The Chief Minister also expressed confidence that a significant economical activities can be witnessed in the state with the realisation of the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor being developed with the cooperation of the Japanese Government. "Consent was also received for inclusion of Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh in this Corridor project" he said.

The Chief Minister also informed that the state government is going to organize a three-day Global Investors Meet from 26 next month. The state government also taken initiative to upgrade the Indore and Bhopal airports as the International airports for which necessary lands has been acquired.

UNI