Chief Minister Hemant Soren today arrived in Barcelona, Spain, as part of his European tour. Upon his arrival, he received a warm welcome from the Indian High Commission in Spain. The primary aim of this visit is to explore opportunities for collaboration between Jharkhand and Spain in areas such as commerce, culture, and sports.
Reports suggest that the Jharkhand government delegation, led by CM Hemant Soren, engaged with prominent Spanish institutions and business leaders from the Indian diaspora. Notably, meetings with the well-known organization Fira Barcelona and the globally acclaimed football club FC Barcelona attracted significant attention.
Talks with Fira Barcelona reportedly focused on the potential for hosting expos, smart city initiatives, and infrastructure development in Jharkhand. Meanwhile, discussions with FC Barcelona explored opportunities for collaboration in sports and youth development. CM Soren encouraged non-resident Indian (NRI) entrepreneurs to invest in Jharkhand, emphasizing the state's updated industrial policy, thriving startup ecosystem, and rich natural resources.
The delegation includes MLA Kalpana Murmu Soren, Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Avinash Kumar, Secretary Industries Department Jharkhand Arwa Rajkamal, Director Industries Sushant Gaurav, Personal Advisor to Chief Minister Ajay Kumar Singh along with other dignitaries.
This official visit will be part of the State’s comprehensive strategy to attract high quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in its most dynamic sectors including steel and metals, energy (conventional and renewable), advanced manufacturing and infrastructure development.
Jharkhand, one of India’s most resource-rich states, contributes significantly to the country’s industrial output. It houses some of the big names like Tata Steel, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and NTPC. The state has also seen major investments from global companies like Vedanta Resources, Tata Power, Linde Group and Adani Power, including projects related to steel production, power generation and gas infrastructure.
Spain and India have steadily grown their economic ties over the past decade. Today, more than 280 Spanish companies operate in India and bilateral trade is set to reach US$8.78 billion in 2024, representing a growth of 6.3% year-on-year. Sectors such as renewable energy, metallurgical industries, smart infrastructure and electric mobility represent key synergies between the two economies.
The Jharkhand delegation will interact with major Spanish industrial and energy groups, investors and public institutions during its visit to Spain and Sweden. The scheduled business forums and B2B meetings will inform Spanish companies on Jharkhand's ambitious industrial roadmap, investor facilitation policies and public-private cooperation opportunities. The delegation will also hold meetings in Sweden.