MP ropes in Assocham, CII for mega show

After withdrawal of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) from much the flaunted brand promotion project “Destination Madhya Pradesh”, the state government has now joined hands with Assocham. It is also learnt to have roped in CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), once again for a mega show to be organised in Bhopal next month.

Assocham and CII will share a common platform for a programme to be organised in Bhopal next month under Destination Madhya Pradesh and prior to a mega investors meet at Khajuraho to be organised from 22-23 October.

Last year, Madhya Pradesh’s trade facilitation agency (TRIFAC), FICCI and Infrastructure and Logistics Federation of India (ILFI) entered into a deal for Destination Madhya Pradesh. Later a rift between FICCI and ILFI widened, reportedly, before state Chief Minister Shivarj Singh Chouhan’s recent Europe trip and FICCI pulled out of the project, which it had organised during 2008-2009 at various locations.

“Prior to the Khajuraho investors meet in October, a day-long mega show “MP: The Centre of Investment, Vision for Global Madhya Pradesh” will be orgnaised on 28th of the next month in Bhopal. The programme will not only showcase Madhya Pradesh as a part of Destination Madhya Pradesh but will also offer an opportunity to the industrialists to exhibit their products,” a government source told Business Standard.

The Destination Madhya Pradesh project was originally conceptualised by CII during the Congress rule, but when BJP took saddle from the Digvijay Singh government, the project, which is now likely to touch expense of '8 crore at Khajuraho, was awarded to FICCI. The programme attracted investment proposals of '3.40 lakh crore during 2009 at various investors meets. Later this year, FICCI, ILFI and TRIFAC signed a deal but FICCI pulled out. “Now ILFI and TRIFAC will organise the Khajuraho show,” the source said, “ILFI will provide logistics support at eight per cent of the total cost of the event.”