Vibrant Gujarat guiding model to woo investments: HP CM

Dharamsala: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said the Vibrant Gujarat events organised by Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat showed the way to attract investment to the state that resulted in investment deals worth Rs 92,439 crore.

Inspired by the success of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh also decided to organise a summit to woo investments to the state.

Speaking at the investors' summit here inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of diplomats, leaders from the corporate sector, policy makers and investors, the Chief Minister said the state took the decision of showcasing its immense potential for investment through the Rising Himachal -- Global Investors' Meet.

He said three international roadshows and six domestic roadshows and conclaves were organised within the state and meetings with ambassadors from over 50 countries were also held.

Thakur said that the state had set a target of attracting investment of Rs 85,000 crore and has, so far, signed 603 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for the investment of Rs 92,439 crore.

He said his government was keen on developing the state as the hub of research and development in pharmaceuticals and establish it as a bulk drug pharma hub, thereby reducing the nation's import bill.

He said that its pristine beauty, clean air, peaceful environment, cultural diversity and linguistic plurality makes Himachal Pradesh one of the most visited states in the country.

Thakur said the state offers attractive incentives under the industrial investment policy to boost industrialisation and make it more attractive and industry-friendly.

He said various policies such as tourism policy, film policy, information technology policy, Ayush policy and affordable housing policy have been framed to attract investment in these sectors.

Industries Minister Bikram Singh said that in order to attract global investors, the state has notified the Himachal Pradesh Industrial Investment Policy 2019 which aims at promoting ease-of-doing business by digitisation of all processes and to promote self-certification.

The UAE Ambassador to India, Ahmed AI Banna, said the Gulf nation was the partner country in this Global Investors' Meet and was committed to make the event a mega hit.

He said bilateral relations between the UAE and India were at the highest level due to the vision of the leadership of both the countries.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is India's third-largest business partner after the US and China, he added.

Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said Himachal Pradesh has immense potential for emerging as a major industrial hub.

The CII is opening a skill institute at Dharamsala for youth skills upgradation.

Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R.C. Bhargava said the environment for investment in Himachal Pradesh was one of the best in the country.

GMR Group's Energy and International Airports Chairman Srinivas Bommidala said he had the best experience of investing in the state.

Vice-Chairman Bharti Enterprise Rakesh Bharti Mittal said the company was providing employment to about 15,000 youth in the state and was playing a big role in realizing the Prime Minister's dream of Digital India.

Head Amazon India Amit Agarwal said two million women entrepreneurs were associated with Amazon.

It has created lakhs of jobs besides providing opportunities to the entrepreneurs to market their products.

Managing Director of Adani Agro, Oil and Gas Pranav Adani said the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit was the brainchild of the Prime Minister, which proved to be a game changer for making Gujarat what it was today.

He said the Adani Group has their presence in controlled atmosphere stores for apples in the state.

Apart from ambassadors from 16 countries, over 200 foreign delegates along with local entrepreneurs are scheduled to participate in the summit held in the backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountain range.