?Destination Uttarakhand? is a representative of ?New India?

Dehradun: The two-day ‘Uttarakhand Investors Summit-2018’ held from October 6 to 8 received overwhelming response from the investors, as 601 MoUs worth Rs 1, 20,150 crores were signed in different sectors and many more are to be signed in coming days. “The response of industrialists and investors during the Summit is more than expected. A total of 601 MOUs worth Rs, 1,20,150 crore have been signed, and more investment proposals are lined up this month. A launch pad for the development of Uttarakhand has been prepared by the Summit, and the state will be in a different shape by 2025,” said state Chief Minister Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat after the completion of the Summit on October 8.

Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated the State Government for holding the Summit on a large scale. Speaking at the concluding session of the Summit, he said the economy is the backbone of any country or state and to make it stronger there is a need for investments. Uttarakhand has ample natural and human resources with a stable government. The important factor in investment is better law and order situation, and from this point of view, Uttarakhand is an ideal state. He said there are vast opportunities for tourism, aroma, yoga, Ayush and wellness in the state and people from across the world can come here. He said the Prime Minister Shri Modi has rightly called it ‘Spiritual EcoZone’ as there is special spiritual vibration in the atmosphere of the state. He hoped that the efforts of the state government would start the trend of reverse migration. He hoped that by the year 2030, Bharat would be amongst the first three economies of the world and GST would prove to be a blessing for the country.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, while inaugurating ‘Uttarakhand Investors Summit-2018’ on October 7 said ‘Destination Uttarakhand’ is a representative of ‘New India’. He said the meaning of SEZ in Uttarakhand is Spiritual Eco Zone (SEZ), which has lakh time more power than any other SEZ. He said many efforts are being made to increase connectivity in the state and All Weather road and Rishikesh-Karanprayag Railway project will boost tourism in the state. He said tourism had been given the status of the industry and many policy reforms have been done. “Organic farming here has great potential, and value addition in agriculture will help increase the income of farmers. India could become a leader in renewable energy, and Uttarakhand has so much energy potential that it can take care of the energy needs of the country,” the PM said.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, while interacting with the industrialists said nature had bestowed immense natural beauty upon “Devdhara’, and we have presented the possibilities present in the state before you. “I can assure you that our relationship will not be that of a government and investor only but a partner in the well being of the state,” he said adding that the summit was organised to understand the viewpoint of Uttarakhand for economic development, employment generation, improving the standard of lives of citizens, regional balance and inclusive development. He said ten new policies had been approved in the last one month. “Even before the summit, about the MoU worth Rs 70,000 crore have been signed,” the CM said. He said all the qualities that one needs for a better business environment are there in the state. Our identity is of a safe state and our Business hubs Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar are connected with major trading markets of the country through a strong rail network.

Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh said 12 areas had been identified by assessing the unique characteristics of the state. They include Food Processing, Tourism and Hospitality, Ayush and Wellness, Automobile and Auto Equipment, Pharmaceuticals, Natural Fibers, Horticulture and Floriculture, Herbs and Aromatic Plants, IT, Bio-Technology and Renewable Energy. He said 50 projects which are worth investment had been prepared. Various ministers of the state and also some unions ministers also interacted with the investors.

Many leading investors joined the Summit and expressed keen interests for investment in the state. MD of Amul RS Sodhi said it has a lot of potential in Uttarakhand. Mahindra Group MD Pawan Kumar Goenka said good governance in Uttarakhand is helpful in industry and investment. Sanjeev Puri of ITC said there could be a lot of work in the field of food processing in the state. Sajjan Jindal of Jindal Group said entrepreneurs should invest in Uttarakhand otherwise they will be deprived of such excellent opportunities. Pranav Adani of the Adani Group said that his group had planned projects for the state in the areas of Metro, Smart City and Solar. Industrial policies of Uttarakhand and single window system are suitable for investment. Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali highlighted the business possibilities of Yoga, Ayush and wellness in Uttarakhand.

Chairman of Rasna Pvt Ltd Piruz Khambatta said the state had attracted investors like a magnet. Sunil Vachani of Dixon Technologies emphasised the need to pay attention to the electronics sector. Amity University Chancellor Dr Aseem Chauhan desired to work in areas of school education, skill development and research in the state. MD of BHEL Anil Sobti said BHEL has a deep connection with Uttarakhand. Sachit Jain of CII said Uttarakhand is the first state, where such an Investors Summit has been organised.

Minister for Communications and Information, Singapore S. Iswaran, Japan’s Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu and the Czech Republic Ambassador Milan Hovorka also addressed the Summit.