By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: The king of fruits, mango of India including Madhya Pradesh is all set to be imported by America while pistachio nut would be exported by them to India. The Laxami Vilas Palace of Panna would be converted to a wellness centre tourist hotel.
According to an official Press release Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is on a visit of the United States of America after England, during the discussions with industrialists, businessmen and investors at Galliard Indian Restaurant in Los Angeles on Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between industrialist Nupur Nagar and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, (MPSTDC), for conversion of Laxami Vilas Palace at Panna into a wellness centre tourist hotel. The MPSTDC would play the role of facilitator in this.
Speaking on the occasion Chouhan dwelt at length on the immense tourism development potential and investment opportunities in this sector in Madhya Pradesh. He said that just as Los Angeles is a metropolitan city where people professing different religious faiths and cultures live, Madhya Pradesh, being centrally located, is also a melting pot of various cultural traits. The state exemplifies unity in diversity in true sense.
Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan added, is making all out efforts to boost tourism in all its forms and budget allocation for this has been considerably increased for this purpose. He informed that Panna airstrip is being privatized. About condition of roads he said that over the years the situation has considerably changed for the better.
MPSTDC Managing Director Ashwini Lohani made an impressive presentation on different aspects of tourism and investment prospects in tourism sector in Madhya Pradesh. A film produced by Madhya Pradesh Madhyam on tourism in Madhya Pradesh was also screened on the occasion.
The guests were treated to Indian delicacies on the occasion, which they enjoyed to the full.
US-Indo Business Meet
The Press release said the Chief Minister Chouhan held detailed discussions with industrialists, businessmen and investors at a business meet organized at the City Centre by U.S.-Indo Business Council. The owner of Paramount Farm Mark Magson said that he would export pistachio nut to India and import mango from India. Madhya Pradesh is one of the three states short-listed for this purpose, he added. Another industrialist Tad also discussed contract farming on the occasion.
In the question answer session the Chief Minister answered the questions from prospective investors and satisfied their queries.
The Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is the transport and logistic hub of India. Referring to various reports the he pointed out that India has surpassed other countries as a hot spot for investment. As per a report of the New York Times, he pointed out, an industrial renaissance is happening in India and “made in China� had to give way to “made in India�.
Chouhan said that India is the fastest growing country and Madhya Pradesh is the fastest growing state of India. Last three years have seen an unprecedented acceleration in infrastructure development works in Madhya Pradesh. The state has completed ongoing power projects ahead of schedule and foundations of new power generation units have been laid. Uninterrupted power supply is still being made to the industry, he added.
The Chief Minister said that complete industrial peace prevails in Madhya Pradesh and in last 10-12 years no mandays loss have been reported due to strikes in the state. In cost competition also the state is full of confidence.
Chouhan extended invitations to those present on the occasion to attend the Global Investors Meet to be held in October at Bhopal. ([email protected])