Khajuraho to host two-day investors' meet

Jan 15, 2007, 9:45 GMT

Bhopal, Jan 15 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh town of Khajuraho, famous for erotic temple sculptures, will host a two-day business meet from Tuesday where the state will project itself as an ideal investment destination, particularly for NRIs.

'Destination Madhya Pradesh - Investors' Meet' has been jointly organised by the state and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

'NRIs from places like the US, Dubai, Canada, Singapore and Toronto will take part in the Khajuraho meet. It will be followed by a series of road shows in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, the US, Europe and Japan before October when a Global Investors' Summit is slated to be held here,' an industries department official said.

'The state government has planned to showcase its advantage in terms of power, manpower, logistics and fiscal advantage during the meet,' said an official release.

'There will be discussions on nine major sectors - industry, mining, agriculture and agro-processing, power, forest and environment, logistics, roads, tourism, IT and ITES.'

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said large tracts of land will be offered at cheap prices to businesses intending to set up factories. He will personally interact with the NRIs.

Cultural programmes will also be organised everyday near the temple complex in Khajuraho.

An official said, 'Even as the country has become one of the hottest destinations for foreign companies, investments have gone only to some parts, while places like Madhya Pradesh have lagged behind. The state government wants to remove this lacunae.'

The state has already set up a Special Economic Zone.

The state is inviting investment in food processing industries, pharmaceutical, gems, textile, tourism, auto components, power generation and infrastructure.

Investment opportunities abound in the state's mineral-based industries, as it is the only Indian state where diamonds are mined. It also accounts for a majority of reserves in copper.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service