By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended an invitation to the Karnataka leading industrialists to come over to the state with their ventures in key areas of industries specially in the fast emerging IT sector.
According to an official Press release Chouhan was addressing a host of industrialists at an ‘Interactive Meet’ organised in co-operation with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, (FICCI), at Bangalore today. Keeping in view the location of majority of IT based industries in Bangalore, Chouhan told the participants of the meet that it is because of this fact, he has chosen this place as the most suitable venue. Chouhan invited the industrialists at the meet which is a prelude to the proposed Global Investors Meet scheduled to be held at Indore on October 26 and 27, 2007 to participate in the mega event.
Chouhan informed the participants that with the availability of natural resources such as minerals, forests, huge coal deposits, marble & diamond mines and water in abundance besides the uninterrupted supply of electricity, the industrialists need to invest comparatively less capital for establishment and operation of their units. Also, the industrial peace, availability of land at concessional rates and further availability of workers at cheaper rates have made Madhya Pradesh an ideal destination for investment, he added. Moreover, there is a large number of skilled and trained manpower with to the existence of engineering colleges including IT institutions in the state.
He assured the industrialists that the state government would provide them all the necessary facilities such as land, electricity, water etc. for establishment of theirs industries in the state. Elaborating on the number of initiatives taken so as to facilitate setting up of new industries, the chief minister said that all the formalities in this regard would be completed at the single table.
Referring to the measures being adopted in Madhya Pradesh for development of infrastructure, Chouhan mentioned that huge funds to the tune of Rs. 15,000 crore would be spent. Roads measuring 25,000 kilometer have been constructed over the past three years. The state would witness construction of another 40,000 kilometer long roads during the next year. He also invited the industrialists to come forward with investments proposals in the infrastructure sector. Madhya Pradesh would soon be among the developed states coming out of the image of a “Bimaru” state.
Later, Chouhan held meetings individually with the industrialists in the conference hall of Taj West End Hotel and invited them for investment in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking on the occasion, the Industries Minister Jayant Malaiyya said that the industrial investment made during the last three-and-a-half-year period reflects the Madhya Pradesh Government’s very positive attitude towards industrialisation. All the prominent industrial houses are attracted to Madhya Pradesh due to the package of concessions and facilities. He called upon the Karnataka industrialists to help accelerate the pace of development in Madhya Pradesh taking benefit of the facilities being extended for establishment of industries.
The Madhya Pradesh Information and Technology Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said that the condition of roads has improved considerably in the state. Hence, a number of big entrepreneur can launch their ventures in Madhya Pradesh without any hitch.
In his welcome address, the president FICCI Karnataka unit S.N. Agarwal described the interactive meet as a significant event for beginning of new industries in Madhya Pradesh. The Managing Director State Industrial Development Corporation Praveen Garg while giving a detailed account of the industrial scenario emerging in Madhya Pradesh, threw light on infrastructure development in the state. The secretary to the chief minister Anurag Jain also interacted with the participants of the meet, informing them about the application of IT in e-governance in the state. He said that Madhya Pradesh is a pioneer state in the country in redressal of grievances of the citizens through the video conferencing. Also, steps have been taken for establishment of IT based units in four major cities of the state including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur. ([email protected])