A new chapter of history was written in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh and the city of lakes, on Monday. It is a matter of great pride for us that the 8th Global Investors Summit (GIS-2025) commenced with the blessings of our esteemed Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. These two days will establish new dimensions of progress and development for Madhya Pradesh. The theme for this year is "Infinite Possibilities," which reflects the unlimited potential for industry and investment in Madhya Pradesh. This congregation of investment visionaries is set to create a new history of development.
We are fortunate that the city of Raja Bhoj, with its glorious past, is ready to take a dream flight into the future. It is an immense pleasure that the most prominent leader of the world's largest democracy, our esteemed Prime Minister, has personally graced this summit, blessing Madhya Pradesh with a golden era of development. The summit has witnessed the participation of representatives from various countries, leading industrialists, investors, and friends from the Madhya Pradesh diaspora. On behalf of the 8.5 crore people of Madhya Pradesh, I extend a heartfelt welcome to all investors attending this summit.
Under the leadership of our visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is reaching new heights of development and is on the path to becoming the world's third-largest economy. India's global stature and respect have increased manifold. The Prime Minister's vision is to make India the world's leading economic and strategic power by 2047. Aligning with this vision, Madhya Pradesh has charted its development blueprint, integrating both heritage and global aspirations.
I am delighted to share that, inspired by our Prime Minister, we embarked on an investment and industrial development journey a year ago. Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest state in India in terms of area and is rich in water resources, forests, minerals, heritage, and agricultural wealth. Every region of this diverse state possesses unique strengths, capabilities, and requirements. Keeping this in focus, we pioneered the concept of Regional Investor's Summits, incorporating the skills and enterprises from every region of the state. We prioritized ease of doing business and direct communication with investors. This investment journey, which commenced in March 2024 from Ujjain, extended to Jabalpur, Gwalior, Sagar, Rewa, Shahdol, Narmadapuram, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Delhi, the UK, Germany, and Japan. Through these summits and national and international roadshows, Madhya Pradesh received investment proposals worth ?4.8 lakh crore, generating approximately 2 lakh new employment opportunities, reflecting the trust investors have in the state.
We have declared 2025, the "Year of Industry and Employment" and set ambitious targets. Several initiatives have been undertaken to encourage investment. Special policies have been formulated for different industries and sectors to simplify and streamline investments.
We have introduced 19 new policies focusing on investment, industry, energy, healthcare, environment, innovation, research, and infrastructure development. These policies create lucrative investment opportunities in automobiles, textiles and garments, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, IT, data centers, GCC, animation and gaming, drones, semiconductors, minerals, petroleum, tourism, education, and healthcare. The Prime Minister has recognized Madhya Pradesh as India's "Textile Capital" and a "Favorite Manufacturing Destination," which is a great honor for us. Additionally, he has given us the "Triple-T" mantra: Textile, Tourism, and Technology, which we are committed to following.
Under the guidance and blessings of our Honorable Prime Minister, Madhya Pradesh continues to receive significant developmental projects. As a result, the state's economy has progressed more than four times faster than other states. The double-engine government at the Center and the state is moving forward with a double-digit growth rate.
Land, water, electricity, and a skilled workforce are essential for industrial development and expansion. It is satisfying to report that our state has surplus electricity, ample water, a vast land bank, and a skilled workforce. We established a Global Skill Park to develop manpower, which runs various skill-enhancement programs.
We have established an efficient 'ease-of-doing-business' environment to promote development, construction, and industries.
Madhya Pradesh was the first state in India to implement the Public Service Guarantee Act, ensuring timely services. We introduced a beneficial land-pooling scheme for farmers and connected the agricultural produce system directly with industries. The lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, River Narmada, ensures abundant water resources. I am pleased to share that, under the leadership of our Prime Minister, the state has received the Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal River Link Project as a valuable gift.
(The author is Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh)
