Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the efforts of the Himachal Government for organising the Rising Himachal Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) here.
He was received at SAI ground by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Cabinet Ministers, former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and others.
Brand Ambassador for Investors’ Meet and Bollywood actor Yami Gautam presented Himachali cap and shawl, a symbol of respect on behalf of the people of the State, to Prime Minister at the venue. Local performers dressed in colourful traditional attire amidst the soothing sound of traditional musical instruments also welcomed the Prime Minister to the ‘abode of the Gods’.
Accompanied by the Governor and Chief Minister, Modi went around the exhibition stall and envisaged keen interest in it. Chief Secretary Shrikant Baldi briefed the Prime Minister regarding the exhibition. Modi also released the Coffee Table Book ‘Investors Haven Rising Himachal’.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said, “Be it your visit to Israel wearing the Himachali cap, or your mention of ‘Chicago to Shimla’ in the recent ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston, USA, you have brought Himachal Pradesh to the global arena".
Thakur said vibrant Gujarat event organised by Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat has showed the way to attract investment for the State. He said that inspired by the success of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh also decided to organise the Meet to woo investment for the State.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government took the decision of showcasing State’s immense potential for investment through Rising Himachal-Global Investors' Meet with the objective of providing further impetus to a sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in the State.
He said that three international roadshows and six domestic roadshows and conclaves were organised within the state and the State also had meetings with Ambassadors from over 50 countries. He said that state government has set a target of attracting investment of Rs .85,000 crore and has so far signed 603 MoUs for the investment of Rs 92,439 crore.
Thakur said that Himachal was keen at developing it as the hub of research and development in pharmaceuticals and establish it as bulk drug pharma hub thereby reducing the nation’s import bill. He said the state offers visitors a variety of choices such as adventure, wildlife, eco-tourism, heritage, spiritual etc. and the Government was committed to make sustainable tourism as one of the prime engines of growth in the state by establishing it as a leading global sustainable tourism destination.He said the State Government has identified key areas such as ensuring good health and well being of all, providing quality education, access to affordable and clean energy, sustainable industrialization, decent economic growth and sustainable cities and towns, to achieve inclusive growth for State’s long-term socio-economic development.
Thakur said the two-day Meet would provide a platform to bring together heads of the state, leaders from the corporate world, senior policymakers, development agencies, heads from institutions of international repute and academia from across the world to further boost socio-economic development in the State.Industries Minister Bikram Singh said that to attract global investors, the State Government has notified Himachal Pradesh Industrial Investment Policy 2019 which aims at promoting Ease of Doing Business by the digitisation of all processes and to promote self-certification, he said.
HIMACHAL CM HOLDS MEETING WITH UAE DELEGATION
Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday presided over the B2G meeting with the delegation of UAE led by Ambassador of UAE in India Ahmed AI Banna at Dharamshala. The delegation envisaged keen interest in investment in fruit marketing and fruit and vegetable processing.
Thakur said the State Government has adopted a pro-active approach to attract investment in the State, adding that due to diverse climatic conditions, the State is known as fruit bowl of the country.
The Ambassador of UAE said that UAE was the partner country in this Global Investors' Meet and was committed to make this event a mega hit. He said that UAE was the third largest business partner of India after United States and China, which shows the relations that the two nations share.
The entrepreneurs from UAE also expressed their interest in developing logistics in the State. Few entrepreneurs showed interest in tourism and wellness centres.
A Russian delegation also had meeting with the Chief Minister and other senior officers of the State Government. Business delegation apprised the Chief Minister regarding their interest in the agriculture sector and culture exchange projects.
