As part of preparation for the mega investment – Rising Rajasthan – to be held from 9-11 December 2024, a high level delegation led by Rajasthan chief secretary Sudhansh Pant returned from visits to Lucknow and Gandhinagar after studying the investors summits, which were organised by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat governments respectively.
Among other officers who accompanied him were additional chief secretary to chief minister Shikhar Agrawal, principal secretary industries and RIICO chairman Ajitabh Sharma, principal secretary tourism Gayatri Rathore, commissioner industries and bureau of investment promotion Rohit Gupta, RIICO managing director Nakate Shivprasad Madan and joint secretary to chief minister Sidharth Sihag.
The officers interacted with their counterparts in Lucknow and GandhiNagar and studied the pattern of investment and investors these two states had drawn from investors summits.
Uttar Pradesh held its three-day summit – UP Global Investors Summit – on 10-12 February 2023. The summit attracted a total investment of Rs 33.50 lakh crore through 18,643 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs).
The Gujarat government held its 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit concluded on 10-12 January this year. The summit attracted a total investment of Rs 26.33 lakh crore through 41,299 MoUs.
The Rajasthan government, also the BJP-ruled like the other two states, is looking at attracting mega investments from across the globe in the similar lines.
“Visits to these two states and interactions with officers behind the success of these two mega summits will definitely help in drawing the blueprint,” said a senior official.
Rising Rajasthan draws Rs 2 lakh crore so far
The Rajasthan government so far has signed MoUs around Rs 2 lakh crore within 10 days of the announcement of the mega summit.
“We have roped in industry bodies CII and FICCI partners along with global consulting firm PwC as knowledge partner. We expect top of the line companies including major players in solar sector to pledge investment commitments,” the official said.
Event planned in record time
This is for the first time that such mega event has been planned in the first year of the new government. Previous editions of the events – Resurgent Rajasthan – 2007, Resurgent Rajasthan – 2015 and Invest Rajasthan – 2022 – were planned in the latter half of the tenure of the government.
“For any such event planning of at least one year is needed to get desirable results. But this event has been planned in less than six months. This will be record of sorts,” said another official who has been part of all the events so far.
Prakash Bhandari is a veteran journalist with over 50 years of experience. He has worked with The Times of India for 30 years and contributed to leading publications as well as international news agency AFP.
