Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal who is currently visiting the United States of America has urged non-resident Indians (NRIs) to invest in his State.
During his visit to Washington DC, Agrawal met a delegation of NRIs and told them about the strengths of Chhattisgarh State in terms of abundant energy supply and mineral availability making it conducive for the investors to establish projects in the State.
The Minister also informed them that Chhattisgarh was blessed with abundant natural resources and highlighted the possibility for them to take up even agriculture based projects due to its very fertile landscape.
Notably, in October last year, US Consul General in India Thomas Vajda during his day-long visit to Chhattisgarh had stated that leading US firms were impressed by the investment potential in Chhattisgarh and were interested in holding a round-table meeting with Chief Minister Raman Singh in this regard.
Vajda had met with Singh at his residence in Raipur and invited him for a roundtable meeting in Mumbai in near future.
Singh had also informed Vajda that the Chhattisgarh Government would go to major cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to hold discussions with the investors for different sectors.
The Chief Minister had apprised Vajda about natural characteristics of the State and said the State held 20 per cent share in the national iron ore production.
Similarly, Chhattisgarh’s contribution is 18 per cent in the total coal production of the country and 30 per cent of the total aluminium production of the country, Singh had stared.
He had also informed Vajda about the visit of a delegation from Montgomery (America) in the previous month.
Vajda had also inquired about insurgency problem in the State to which Singh said that it was a national problem and all the affected States had prepared a joint action plan with the Central Government and launched a campaign against Naxalism.
He said Chhattisgarh Government was getting all possible help from the Central Government for permanent solution of the Naxal problem.
Work was going on according to a comprehensive strategy formed for maintaining law and order and protection of life in the insurgency hit areas. The Surguja region of the State was free from Naxal problem while the restive Bastar region would soon be relieved from the problem, Singh had told Vajda.
Moreover, an American delegation from Montgomery which was on a two-day visit of Chhattisgarh in September last year had visited the State to have a look at various projects ongoing and completed projects in the State’s hi-tech administrative capital in Naya Raipur.
The 18-member delegation led by Isiah (Ike) leggett had stated that the greenery, water harvesting and better infrastructure makes Naya Raipur different from new cities.
leggett had also appreciated the rural development scheme and skill development besides rehabilitation schemes implemented in the State.
The US delegation had also met Chief Minister Raman Singh and held discussions about possibilities of mutual cooperation between Chhattisgarh and Montgomery in the field of health, herbal medicines, non-conventional energy, information technology, handicraft and biotechnology. leggett had consented for cooperation in various sectors the economy and expressed interest in the field of generic medicines.
In June this year the Chhattisgarh Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based BrightSKY llC for setting up a project for the manufacture of telecom equipment and lED bulbs in Naya Raipur.
The total quantum of investment to be made by the company is an estimated `500 crore. The project is expected to provide employment opportunities to around 600 people, officials stated.
The MoU was signed between CHiPS CEO Saurabh Kumar on behalf of Chhattisgarh government and CEO of BrightSKY llC Nick Shevillo. The MoU was signed during a meeting of State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) at the office located at the Chief Minister’s residence in Raipur .
Notably, the Central government has already approved Chhattisgarh government’s proposal of establishing an ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ in Naya Raipur, officials informed.
The Electronic Manufacturing Cluster will be established by Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) during the next three years.
The estimated cost of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ is `105 crore where the Central Government will contribute `50 crore for the project while remaining expenses will be borne by State government itself.