Chhattisgarh is the best destination for investment in India: Raman Singh

Aamir H Kaki 

Chhattisgarh is the best destination for investment in India. This is only made possible due to policy decisions, optimum utilisation of its capacities, strategic management of its natural resources and visionary governance, said Dr Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh on Thursday. 

We have worked from new perspective on all the policies, which resulted in positive and lively environment for business and investment in the state, Singh said while speaking at the 2nd Global Investors India Forum orgeanised by ASSOCHAM in New Delhi. 

“In his last budget speech, our finance minister Arun Jaitley mentioned about the nine pillars to transform India which included agriculture farmers’ welfare, rural sector, education, skills and job creation, infrastructure and investment, financial sector reforms, governance and ease of doing business, fiscal discipline and tax reforms, we have formulated a long-term strategy based on these pillars. I am pleased to inform you that Chhattisgarh has made significant progress in each one of them,” he added. 

Under the ‘Make in India’ scheme, Chhattisgarh has an important contribution. The policy decisions we have taken for business fraternity has become the base for ease of doing business. 

Luring the investors, the Chief Minister said that there is lot of potential and opportunities in the state for investment. The state has skilled manpower, mineral deposits, power, and conducive policies for business. 

He informed, “We produce the country’s 20 percent iron ore, 22 percent coal and 36 percent dolomite, and 30 percent steel and sponge iron. The State contributes 16 percent to the country’s cement production. In India, Tin is only produced in Chhattisgarh.”

Our average agriculture growth rate is double than the country’s average. We are home to one eighth of country’s forest with 44 percent of the state’s total geographical area under forest, with rare herbs and forest produce offering immense processing potential. The business of minor forest produce is more than Rs.2000 crore, Singh mentioned. 

He informed that the GDP of the state has registered a five-fold increase in the last 15 years. 

On investment opportunities in the state, Singh said, “After developing the core sectors which include steel, cement, power generation, we have created a strong base for non-core sectors, which would leap frog the state economy and open doors for new sectors such as electronics, IT & ITeS, defence, railway, heavy engineering, plastic, food processing, herbal, services etc.” 

These sunrise sectors which are in focus will bring new investment and employment opportunities to the state, he added.

He further mentioned that geographically the state is at the centre of the country and well connected by air, road and railways. We will invest around Rs.40000 crore in the coming years for the expansion of the road network in the state.

Referring to the problem of naxals, Singh said barring few areas the state is safe. “People think there's Naxal problem which is not true. Chhattisgarh is 101 percent safe, cities stay lively. Come to Chhattisgarh and you will not look at any other place to invest in,” he added.