RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said the state has emerged as one of the most suitable destinations for investment and the state is keen to attract non-polluting and sun-rise industries for which the state has formulated sector-specific policies.Speaking at the ‘Think Progress, Think Chhattisgarh’ conclave, organised by Chhattisgarh Industries Development Corporation (CSIDC) in association with the Times Group, he said the state, which came into existence just 18 years ago after being carved out of Madhya Pradesh , has made biggest investments in social sector even as the state also focused on infrastructure, industrial and other development. Earlier, Singh inaugurated the newly built trade and convention centre, which has been named after Dr Shayma Prasad Mukherjee. Executives of major industrial groups attended the one day conclave.“When we went ahead with investment in the social sector, the perception was that the government is squandering money on populist schemes. Eventually, it turned out that the state has been able to mop up resources for development and also emerged as a state with excellent financial management”, Singh said.Apprising the industrialists about the opportunities for investment in Chhattisgarh, chief minister Raman Singh said the state’s priority is to attract investments in information technology, electrical, food processing, solar energy and so on which can also generate employment opportunities in a pollution free environment.Pointing out that Chhattisgarh’s contribution in steel, power, aluminium and other core sector accounts for 20 per cent, he said the state has many things to offer—political stability and better law and order, vast natural resources, better infrastructure and so on. He said state’s GSDP has increased from Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 2.90 lakh crore and state’s budget size increased from Rs 9000 crore to Rs 92,000 crore over the last 18 years. “Chhattisgarh is all set to enter the club of state’s with a budget size of Rs one lakh crore very soon”, he added.In the same duration, per capita income of the state has increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 92,000. Chhattisgarh has maintained the status of revenue surplus for the last 13 years. Reserve Bank of India has lauded Chhattisgarh for its better financial management. Chhattisgarh has the lowest debt in the country. The Chief Minister mentioned that state government has arranged additional resources worth Rs 600 crore through public-private partnership model (PPP-model). Railway Network worth Rs 13,000 crore is to be implemented through PPP model, which has become a model for other states.Commerce and Industry Minister Amar Agarwal said that industrial progress and economic growth are the top priorities of the state government saying that Chhattisgarh is a live example of a peaceful industrial environment for industries. Pointing out that memorandum of understanding (MoU) with more than Rs three lakh crore have been signed of which about 32 per cent have become a reality.Chief Minister Raman Singh, commerce and industry minister Amar Agrawal, PWD minister Rajesh Munat, CSIDC chairman Chagganlal Mundra, state chief secretary Ajay Singh, Chief minister’s principal secretary Aman Singh, India consul general at Shanghai Anil Kumar Rai veteran industrialist Kamal Sharda, CII Chhattisgarh Chapter Chairman Pankaj Sarda, Ravin Group Chairman cum Managing Director Vijay Karya, Co-Founder of Fret Bazar Ganesh Revanvar, who were present, released a coffee table book titled “Advantage Chhattisgarh."

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