Find out how many CMs it takes to woo an NRI

 

Five Chief Ministers including Siddaramaiah tried to lure NRIs to invest in their respective states at the 14th Pravasi Bharati Divas hosted in Bengaluru. 

 

CMs of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Puducherry had participated in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Saturday and announced the facilities and policies of their states for the benefit of NRIs. 

 

Here is what the five have said and offered:

 

Siddaramaiah (Karnataka):

 

• Karnataka government has formed industrial policies as well as policies for NRIs to facilitate the investors to use water, land, electricity and other basic infrastructure.
• The approval process to invest and establish industries in the state have been simplified.
• Karnataka is the first state to announce its NRI policy.
• IISC, IIM, BEL, HAL, NAL and other institutions support in every way, and the government has planned industrial corridors across the state. 

 

Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra):

 

• Maharashtra government is developing Aurangabad as Industrial smart city and give all the support to establish and develop industries.
• NRIs can find all basic infrastructures in the state that are required to establish industries. 

 

Dr Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh):

 

• Chhattisgarh is a land of dense forest, national park, reserve forest and water resources that attract all the tourists. It is a land of rich natural resources, minerals and wildlife. 
• The state is going to bring a revolution in generating power in the coming 10 years.
• The state has also amended its policies to facilitate investors.

 

Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam):

 

• Assam is an investor-friendly state.
• The state has plenty of industrial parks, food parks, bamboo parks, plastic parks and industrial estates.
• The state stands in No.1 position in the production of tea and has air, road and rail transport facilities.
• ONGC, GAIL, Hindustan Unilever, ITC, TATA, Britannia and many prestigious companies have already invested in the state in crores.
• The state has top grade IIT, IIIT, Medical and Engineering institutions that provide research as well as human resources to the industries. 
• Tax for the investors will be waived off for the new investors as per the investment policy of the state.

 

V Narayanasamy (Puducherry): 

 

• Puducherry is a state renowned for its peace and harmony. It gives a big opportunity for investors though it is a small state. 
• The state has all basic infrastructures, transport facilities, handicraft, technology development centres and offers special discounts for big industries.
• The state has more opportunity in the fields of industry guidelines bureau, education and tourism.    

 

The CMs spoke during 'Development Foundation of Overseas Indians' and made visible efforts to impress the NRI audience. However, the highlight of the evening was when Vighneshwar, an NRI, raised the question “Why do we need NRIs’ money for our development?” embarrassing the bureaucrats, leaders and the delegates.

 

To save them from any further embarrassment, Dnyaneshwar M Mulay, Secretary for Ministry of External Affairs & Overseas Indian Affairs intervened and told that the ministry is just providing a transparent platform for investors and it is not insisting anyone for investment.