In last four months, at least six states organised Global Investors' summit to draw investment. These states included Rajasthan, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
Rajasthan was the first to organise this summit – Rising Rajasthan – from 9-11 December 2024. And it topped the investment chart by attracting a whopping investment commitment of over Rs 35 lakh crore. Though Madhya Pradesh, which organised its Global Investors' Summit from 24-25 February 2025, came close by attracting investment pledges of Rs 30.77 lakh crore.
Other states could barely cross double digit, except Odisha which attracted investment commitment of Rs 16 lakh crore.
West Bengal, which organised Bengal Global Business Summit from 5-6 February, could attract investment commitment of only Rs 4.4 lakh crore while neighbouring Bihar and Assam managed to attract Rs 1.8 lakh crore and Rs 5 lakh crore respectively.
Rajasthan is hot investment destination
Rising Rajasthan was well managed summit with meaningful contribution from every level of bureaucracy, right from district collector to the top bureaucratic office of chief secretary. The role of industries department as the nodal agency was also a key to the success of the summit. Around 80% of the investment commitments came from energy sector – mostly from renewable energy companies, almost all top of the line companies showed their interest in investment in the state. Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is holding monthly review meeting to drive the implementation of MoUs signed in the summit.
The chief secretary Sudhansh Pant also hold period reviews to accelerate the fructification of investment commitments.
The principal secretary industries Ajitabh Sharma too has been entrusted with the responsibility to coordinate with other department and remove bottlenecks, if any coming in the way of implementation. Similarly, all department heads and secretaries hold regular meetings to facilitate the implementation of MoUs in their respective departments.
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.
