Ahead of the Global Investors meet in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said entrepreneurs  were the brand ambassadors of the State and could play a major role in attracting investments and it was vital that they give their wholehearted support to make the Meet slated for 7th and 8th November  this year at Dharamshala a success.

Presiding over the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Baddi-Brotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association (BBNIA) held at Baddi in Solan district, Thakur said the role of entrepreneurs in progress and development of the State was vital. He said industries in the State were not only providing employment to the lakhs of youth of the State but were also contributing to state exchequer by way of taxes worth crores of rupees. He said that the Government was ensuring that the entrepreneurs get best environment to invest and run their business in the State.

The Chief Minister said that the State was now ranked top amongst Fast Movers Category in Ease of Doing Reforms and the Single Window Monitoring and Clearance Authority reflects strong commitment of the State Government to ensuring efficiency, transparency, timeliness and accountability in providing services to investors.

He said that BBNIA were major contributors in fast industrialisation of the State, adding that the Government was ensuring to give priority to this area in strengthening infrastructure. He said that the four-laning work of Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh Road would be expedited for facilitating the entrepreneurs.

Thakur said that soon after assuming office, he decided to take innovative steps aimed at welfare of the people and development of the State, adding that organising the Global Investors Meet was one of such decisions. He said that the State offers various incentives to the entrepreneurs such as pollution free environment, investor friendly policies, responsive and accountable administration. All these make Himachal Pradesh a most favoured destination for the investors, he added.

The Chief Minister said till date  MoUs  worth Rs 79 thousand crore have been signed in the State, emphasising that investors coming outside of State would not be able to invest without the active support of the local entrepreneurs as they would require their support to do business in our state.He invited the entrepreneurs from the area to be part of the Global Investors Meet and thereby make their contribution in the development of the State.

Industries Minister Bikram Singh Thakur said the state government was committed to provide all facilities to the entrepreneur to facilitate them to invest in the state.

He said that the government was laying special stress on ease of doing business and the state also has peaceful environment and congenial industrial relations.

He said that online approvals were now being accorded for giving time bound approvals for 118 for facilitating the Investors.

President BBNIA Sanjay Khurana urged the Chief Minister to strengthen Baddi-Brotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority so that better infrastructure could be created in the area.