Chhattisgarh to explore investment opportunities in Australia

Mineral-rich Chhattisgarh would explore the possibilities of drawing investment from Australia.

A high-level delegation led by Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday left for Australia as part of the exercise. The team would visit Sydney, Melbourne, Canes and Brisbane before returning on January 24.  

Singh said Australia had been a key supporting country in the economic and industrial development of India. “We would inform entrepreneurs in Australia about the attractive investment policies of the state government and invite them to invest in Chhattisgarh,” he added.

The state government is eyeing to ink an agreement with the Brisbane city council for developing Naya Raipur as a sister city. Naya Raipur, the upcoming new capital city of Chhattisgarh, is the first planned city of the 21st century.

The team would also study the technology used in mining and mineral sector in Australia. Chhattisgarh has been endowed with rich mineral resources and the state has a vast opportunity in the sector.

The Chief Minister said the visit was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of Make-in-India by inviting the companies from Australia to set up a production unit in Chhattisgarh. During the visit, the focus would not be on investment in the core sector that includes power, steel, and aluminium.

The government would stress on the sectors related to agriculture and food processing, solar energy, information technology, defence equipment and engineering. “We would be exploring investment in new sectors,” Singh said.

The delegation is likely to meet over 60 Australian entrepreneurs during the visit.