– NEW YORK
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has invited nonresident Indians and the mainstream business community to share their expertise and capabilities with his state in areas like IT, agriculture, business and social sectors.
While addressing potential investors, community members and lawmakers at the Friends of Madhya Pradesh Conclave at the Lincoln Center here Feb. 1,
Chouhan invited industries and entrepreneurs to “Make in Madhya Pradesh,” drawing upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign.
He assured them of a conducive environment for growth, the Press Trust of India reported. Describing their contributions as important, he said that advice, investment, expertise and friendship are the key components of development.
The chief minister is leading a delegation that includes his Minister for Commerce, Industries and Employment Yashodhara Raje Scindia and senior state government officials on a five-day visit to the U.S.
Chauhan was joined by Reps. Caroline Maloney, Nita Lowey and Yvette Clarke, D-New York; as well as New Jersey Assemblymen Gordon Johnson, Raj Mukherjee, commissioner on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Upendra Chivukula, and Consul General of India in New York Dnyaneshwar Mulay, as he launched the Friends of MP initiative, a web-enabled platform that will allow interested individuals to share their suggestions and expertise in education, health, skill development, rural development and tourism.
Addressing the over 300 guests in Hindi, Chouhan said the state welcomed ideas and suggestions to put Madhya Pradesh on a higher growth trajectory. “I welcome you all with open arms. Use your talent and capability towards the progress of the country and your state. I am not just the Chief Minister but the CEO of the state and I assure you that you will not be disappointed,” he said.
“Friends of MP” is a talent pool of individuals of Indian origin or otherwise, living outside of Madhya Pradesh, who are passionate about becoming a part of the state’s success story. The initiative is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of each Indian state constituting its own global talent pool as a network of its “friends” — wherever in the world they may be — and utilizing their experience for the country’s development, a statement of the Friends of MP website says.
According to Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh, publisher of Desi Talk and recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, such events ensure “better U.S.-India relations.” Dr. Parikh, who helped organize the conclave, was responsible for inviting the New Jersey politicians to the event, and introducing them to Chouhan. “The chief minister was vibrant, helpful and open to investment in his state,” Dr. Parikh said of his meeting with Chouhan, adding that Chouhan promised a “red carpet welcome without much red tape.”
Earlier, Chouhan held formal meetings with Mulay, non-resident Indians belonging to Madhya Pradesh and prospective U.S. investors, the Times of India reported.
Praising Indian-Americans, and their achievements and contributions, Scindia in her address asked them to come back to Madhya Pradesh. “You lived your American dream, now come back to your native land,” she said. Highlighting Chouhan’s initiatives for women empowerment, she said agriculture growth rate in MP is 24 percent and there is rapid industrialization. Setting up of micro small and medium enterprises is also our priority, she noted.