States are jostling to get global attention as more and more countries are training their guns to create their manufacturing and business hubs in India.
Rajasthan government too has reached out to woo foreign investment in the state. For that a high level delegation led by chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has met with ambassadors and diplomats of leading countries, including U.S.A, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea, Australia, UAE, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Qatar and South Africa among others.
The main focus was to showcase the business potential of Rajasthan and apprise them about the business friendly policies and environment in Rajasthan.
“Embassies are mirror of respective countries. Any foreign investor generally invest in consultation with embassies and ambassadors. We are tapping these embassies and are showcasing our strengths so that they can recommend investors and businessmen of their respective countries to visit Rajasthan and do business there,” said a senior industries department official.
The chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that Rajasthan is ready to welcome the foreign companies in the state. The success of Japanese zone in Neemrana is living testimony to the warm hospitality and business potential of the state.
“Our government arguably took the first of its kind decision to appoint senior IAS officers as single Point of Contact (PoC) in as many as 25 foreign countries to ensure that the investors from these regions are able to do business in Rajasthan without any hassles. Being in close proximity with key North Indian states such as Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh among others, combined with huge reserves of minerals, world-class tourism and skilled workforce, Rajasthan presents itself as a prominent and perfect investment destination,” he said.
Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of Industries and Commerce spoke about the investment opportunities in the state and said that “what makes Rajasthan different from other states is its immense potential across business sectors.
“Over one-third of the freight corridor in the country passes through the state and the availability of young and low-cost workforce makes the state a prominent investment destination,” he said.
Sudhansh Pant, Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, emphasised the courageous decision made by Bhajan Lal Sharma to host the ‘Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024 within the first year of his government's term.
“This decision to organize the investment summit in the inaugural year demonstrates the government's commitment to fulfilling its promises over the remaining four years of its tenure. Rajasthan has a dedicated investment zone for a specific country, exemplified by the Neemrana Japanese Investment Zone. The successful operations of over 50 Japanese companies in this zone underscore the government's dedication to facilitating a conducive business environment and its readiness to support all its investors,” he said.
Ajitabh Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries, stressed upon the significant investment opportunities available in the realm of mineral exploration within the state.
“Foreign companies engaged in mineral exploration and value addition should consider Rajasthan as a primary investment destination, particularly in light of the recent discoveries of 118 million tons of gold ore and 15 million tons of lithium. These findings present substantial prospects for companies involved in electric battery manufacturing and development across the globe,” he said.
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.
