Ambani explores business potential in Bihar

Patna, Oct 19: Reliance Industries Limited Mukesh Ambani today explored business potentials in Bihar saying that special attention was required here to achieve the national target of growth rate.

After discussing the investment possibilities with the authorities of the state and reviewing the power point presentation made by the Deputy Chairman of Bihar State Planning Board N.K.Singh,Chief secretary A.K.Choudhry,Industrial Development commissioner S.Vijay Raghavan, the tycoon Mr Ambani told newspersons here that all states were being covered to achieve the national target of the growth rate and to attain the nations developmental goal. He said Bihar was being given special attention as it lagged far behind the national average of development standards.

Mr Ambani said that he was here on the day long tour to assess the business opportunities and possibilities of investments.

The Big--A, Mr Ambani assured to cooperate in the development of Bihar for which he wished to make investments here in the near future. Mr Ambani said that he had discussed the authorities of the state about the sectors under which investements could be made and replied in affermative that the reliance would be visible in Bihar as a major business holder.

Apprently satisfied with the development scenario specially in the business and trade sector of the state Mr Ambani said the state and immense business potential which if exploited properly would give a boom to the states development.

Mr Ambani disclosed his plannings saying that he was contemplating for long term investments for about five to six years in Bihar to get the desired results. The fifth richest person of the world, Mr Ambani wished progress and prosperity of the people of the state on the occasion of Dushehra and Deepawali and indicated that the possibilites of invesetment in rural sectors was large. Mr Ambani indicated to make 60 percent of the investment in the rural areas where the growth potential was high. He said later the Reliance India Limited (RIL) would also work on the alternative sources of energy specially solar energy and would make investments in the energy sector.

Mr Ambani further said that he firmly believe that Bihar has to progress much faster to achieve the national standards of growth rate and for this he said the RIL with the help of the governments authorities was trying to identify the areas where the compamy would be able to prove its skills.

He said Bihar had undoubtedly immense potential for development of agriculture by utilising its human resources. He said the financial condition of the state could be improved and the youth force can play a decisive role in the mission.He also suggested for skill upgradation to achieve the targets of growth rate and assured the RIL would make long term and mid term plan beneficiary for both the state and the RIL.

Apart from discussing the business possibilities with the state authorities during the meeting, Mr Ambani also pinpointedly discussed the problems likely to creat hurdle in the progress of the business.

After the power point presentation of the state government, the RIL representatives accompanying Mr Ambani also apprised the state chief minister Nitish Kumar with their paln, their multi dimensional projects and programmes for expanding their business the state of Bihar.

After the parleys with the state authorities Mr Ambani visited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at One Anne Marg where Mr Kumar along with his cabinet colleagues and state higher authorities hosted a lunch in the honour of Mr Ambani. The visit of the Big A was an open indication that Bihar was on the radar of the top of corporate honchos. This visit is also being viewed as an expansion plan of the RIL in Bihar whose retail foray had met resistance in the neighbouring states of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh where this particular venture of Mr Ambani suffered great setback.

After telcom foray and the retail space,now the RIL was also planning to enter into the dairy sector, an area where Bihar had performed exceptionally well and still had the huge potential.

Earlier the state had witnessed high profile visits of top industrialists including Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindras, Sunil Mittal, Analjit Singh and several others.Eeven after their much hyped visits which had created brouhaha in the political circle, they were still to come up with concrete proposal or business plan.

UNI