Chouhan in US to woo investors, says MP 'ideal' for investment

Describing Madhya Pradesh as an "ideal investment destination", Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said he would seek investment from US companies in sectors like IT, infrastructure and food processing by highlighting his state's conducive business environment.

Chouhan arrived here yesterday on a five-day tour during which he will meet several CEOs and executives of global companies, address a round-table organised by US-India Business Council and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and sign an MoU with Columbia University.

"Madhya Pradesh is the heartland of India and is an ideal destination for investment. It is conducive to business and we have put in place investor friendly policies for various sectors to ensure ease of doing business for the foreign investor," Chouhan told PTI here.

He said the state government focusses on a "single table" concept in place of the "single window" where policy matters and hurdles to investments are discussed in meetings and quick solutions are arrived at to address concerns of investors and businesses.

Chouhan underscored that sectors such as auto, textile, education, health, IT, pharma, minerals, food processing and infrastructure offer tremendous investment potential in his state, saying he will assure investors that the state offers an environment of ease of doing business.

"We have simplified various policies to ensure ease of doing business. Our state is implementing labour reforms, has no shortage of skilled manpower and we are willing to undertake measures to make the business environment more conducive," he said.

Chouhan said investors are looking at new destinations in India as some states across India have reached a "saturation" point.

"In this context, Madhya Pradesh, where leading Indian business houses have established a foothold, is ideal to attract new investment," he said.

Noting that Madhya Pradesh is becoming an educational hub, Chouhan said his government will also explore the possibility of entering into collaborations with leading US universities.

Chouhan will sign an MoU with Columbia University on August 31. The Minister attended a reception organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP in New Jersey yesterday.

He is scheduled to meet CEOs and top executives of several leading companies, such as MasterCard, Pfizer, Gilead Sciences, Coca Cola and Sirius over the next three days.

last year, Chouhan had addressed hundreds of Indian- Americans and key American lawmakers at the 'Friends of Madhya Pradesh Conclave' at the prestigious lincoln Centre in the city, inviting industries and entrepreneurs to 'Make in Madhya Pradesh', drawing upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign.