Maha CM heading for US to attract investment

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is leaving for New York on Sunday on a ten-day US visit aimed at attracting foreign investment in the state.

Deshmukh, who is leading a delegation comprising officials and industry representatives, is scheduled to attend the Maharashtra Investment Forum meet and another meeting with IBM officials on June 25, an official in the state secretariat said on Saturday.

On June 26, Deshmukh would meet New York Governor and Mayor. The meeting would be followed by a round-table conference to be attended by industrialist Ratan Tata.

The CM is slated to meet Cisco officials and later address a meeting on ‘Public-private sector partnership for infrastructure development.’

On June 27, Deshmukh would participate in a meeting on ‘Infrastructure facilities in India and urban renewal’, with officials of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will host a luncheon for the Chief Minister on June 28 at the company's office in Seattle.

A day later, Deshmukh would inaugurate a business conference organised by the Brihan-Maharashtra Mandal. He will later meet the Boeing company officials.

On July 1, the delegation would arrive at Los Angeles and visit California University and Universal Studios.

On July 2, the Chief Minister will meet investors at Chicago. The next day, he will have a meeting with a team from Dow Chemical company and also investors from Illinois.

Deshmukh will return to Mumbai on July 5, the official added.