Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma addressing the Investor Meet organized for ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024, in Mumbai on Friday (August 30, 2024). | Photo Credit: ANI
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that in the next two months, a high-level delegation from the state government will travel across the state and more than 25 countries across the world to attract investment.
In a freewheeling conversation with The Hindu during his visit to Mumbai, where he invited industrialists to invest in Rajasthan as part of preparations for the ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024, he said that IAS officers have been deployed at each location to ensure continuous communication with entrepreneurs. “This officer will remain in regular contact with representatives of foreign or international companies, as well as their respective governments, until retirement. They will visit when necessary and gain expertise in the area, potential investment and trade, who are actually our ambassadors in the area , the same way diplomats specialize in the affairs of China, Japan, Russia and other countries – only the coordinates will be the same from Rajasthan,” he explained.
Mr. Sharma explained his commitment to provide full support to new ventures for the economic growth of the State, with a view to aligning with the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat@2024’ set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We are focused on ensuring that every entrepreneur receives all the necessary facilities through a single-window system to simplify the process of setting up an industry. The goal is to accelerate the completion of projects and create industries and provide employment,” he said.
Mr. Sharma said his government is focusing on a multi-pronged approach to double Rajasthan’s GDP from the current $184 billion to $350 billion in the next five years, which means a targeted annual growth rate of 10%. “This is an ambitious target due to the current economic structure of the country and because of this we have decided to host ‘Rising Rajasthan’ in the first year of my government. To achieve this economic leap, we have identified certain focus sectors such as renewable energy, ESDM, green hydrogen, petrochemicals , health, textiles, agricultural processing and tourism,” he said.
He said the focus is not only on signing the MoU, but on ensuring that the agreement translates into real investment on the ground. “The initial timing of the investment peak is meant to give us four years to review and execute the project effectively,” the 57-year-old first MLA, who became the country’s largest Chief Minister last December, said. , adding that they have signed MoUs worth over ₹4.5 lakh crore at the Mumbai roadshow on Saturday (August 31, 2024).
When asked about the growing technology sector, especially ESDM, IT and ITeS, Mr. Sharma said that the State is a hub for emerging technologies, including Web 3.0, data science, and deep technology. “We are developing Greenfield Electronics Manufacturing Clusters in Salarpur and Bhiwadi and are offering special incentives and packages to attract technology companies and start-ups. “Rajasthan’s abundant natural resources, such as silica for semiconductors, manganese, copper, zinc, and lead are used in various -a variety of electronic components, batteries, and protective coatings, further enhancing our attractiveness in the technology and electronics manufacturing sector,” he said.
“Over 320 sunny days per year make it ideal for large-scale solar installations. In addition, a green energy corridor is being developed in western Rajasthan to combine solar and wind power production,” he said.
As AI and Machine Learning continue to shape the industry, Mr. Sharma sees the technology not as a threat but as an opportunity for skill development. “We are committed to providing youth with the skills they need to thrive in a technology-driven economy.” The upcoming Rajasthan IT and ITes Policy-2024 will improve digital infrastructure, making the investment process smoother and investor friendly, he said.
