The two countries hosting him and his high-powered team are already catalysing industrial progress in India's medium and large industrial sectors.
Opinion is sharply divided on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's latest campaign to lure overseas investors. Will his 10-day trip to South Korea and Japan prove to be a turning point in industrial investment? The Chief Minister's phrasal reference to 'rice bowl' during business talks in Osaka didn't point to any agreement on farming sector. The two countries hosting him and his high-powered team are already catalysing industrial progress in India's medium and large industrial sectors.
With its immense mineral wealth, water, fertile land, skilled human resources, and electricity, Chhattisgarh should have been way ahead of where it stands now. Most industries in the state have been there since before the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, over 16 years ago.
Critics say, Raman Singh's previous visits abroad on similar missions yielded only promises; just a fraction of what was promised could be realised. But, supporters say the recent promise of a South Korean telecom company to invest Rs 130 crore in setting up mobile phone equipment manufacturing units might provide the long awaited breakthrough. The CM has announced a change in focus from core-heavy industries to non-core fields like IT, electronics, solar energy, and automobiles. Sung Ha Telecom company has consented in principle to set up its mobile phone manufacturing plant in Naya Raipur.
It is not difficult to understand why investors shy away from Chhattisgarh even though the World Bank had listed the state among the top five with regard to ease of doing business. The recurring spurt in the Maoist violence has put off the prospective investors. The Chhattisgarh government has been grappling with the issue for 13 years.
Last year, after Singh visited China, the state expected that investments worth Rs 6,600 crore would pour in from China. However, not much has been heard on that front since.
The State had also claimed to have bagged $1 billion investment through a MoU — signed by the Hong Kong Jinyuan International Development Ltd with the state government in Shenzen — to set up a cement plant under the new strategy that investments must be delayed if not dropped altogether.
The way out obviously is to reassure investors on the security front. The CM has done some loud thinking on the issue and Mission Sukma is a resultant proposal. It suggests the use of air power to target Naxal leadership along with continuous development work to eradicate Left wing extremism from the worst-affected district of the state. Sukma is the nucleus of Maoist operations. The mission aims to rid Sukma of Maoists by use of aerial assistance. This can be accomplished by targeting interior areas, hitting Maoists, occupying new areas, camping with aerial assistance, managing a stronghold on ground, constructing roads, and ensuring continuous development.
With assembly elections again on the horizon, the ruling BJP is expected to push for industrial and economic growth.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Raman Singh")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}