Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has sought cooperation from Singapore in developing Madhya Pradesh as manufacturing hub, promoting tourism, setting up vocational training institute and civic management. He was holding discussions on areas of cooperation and development priorities with a 15-member delegation of Singapore led by the Emeritus Senior Minister and former Prime Minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong at Mantralaya here on Thursday.
Chouhan said that Singapore can extend co-operation in setting up vocational training centre and infrastructure building. He extended a warm welcome to Tong and said that exchange of views will guide the State.
Referring to essentials of development underlined by Tong in his address on National Day of Singapore, Chouhan said that responsible leadership, good governance, coordination with people and Government-people trust are the elements the State Government has strictly adhered to. He said that good governance remains the top priority.
He apprised the delegation of key measures like public service delivery guarantee Act, CM Helpline 181, e-tendering, e-payment and e-measurement.
Chouhan informed about Government-people relationship in governance saying that all welfare schemes have been founded on insightful inputs from the prospective stakeholders. Giving details of how Madhya Pradesh has made strides, he said that Madhya Pradesh has scored highest 11.08 per cent economic growth rate in the country. It has highest agriculture growth rate of 24.99 per cent. He talked about entrepreneurship development among youth and building of four new industrial corridors. Describing Singapore as investment gateway in South Asia, Chouhan said that a team of top officers and experts will be sent to Singapore for exploring trade and investment opportunities.
Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa gave a detailed presentation on how Madhya Pradesh has made tremendous progress in all sectors.
Impressed by the vision and development milestones, Tong observed that job creation is a challenging task. In view of friendly relations between Japan and India, he underlined possibilities of investment by the Japanese companies as Japan wants to expand its trading base.
Singapore can effectively play the role of a catalyst. He said that maximum number of young entrepreneurs should be associated with manufacturing sector as it holds immense potential at global level.
The delegation included Desmond lee Minister of State Ministry of National Development, lim Thuan Kuan High Commissioner of Singapore in India, Albert Chua second permanent secretary Ministry of foreign affairs, laurence Bay Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ajit Singh Consul General of Singapore in Mumbai, Ang Yi Jun Country Officer, Ng Yi Wen Planner Ministry of National Development, Madam Ushadevi Kannan, Vice-Consul Singapore Consulate General in Mumbai.