Modi carefully nurturing eco-system of empowered states, says Vasundhara Raje

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA Government at the Centre for giving states across the country the required impetus and empowerment to perform in terms of overall economic contribution.

Addressing participants at the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit here, Raje said,"India is strong today because her states are strong. This has been possible only because the NDA Govt under the able stewardship of Prime Minister Modi is carefully nurturing the eco-system of empowered states."

Raje further said that foreign direct investment (FDI) is gradually being introduced in various key sectors of the state, and the administration is taking appropriate steps to simplify existing clearance mechanisms to facilitate better delivery of goods and services to the people of the state.

"A few days ago, we welcomed FDI in a host of sectors. This was accompanied by simplification of processes. We have allowed FDI in construction projects, in defence and in plantation activities, and (clearance) processes are much easier," the Rajasthan chief minister said.

She further stated that FDI in regional airlines will give a huge impetus to the state's tourism sector.

"We intend to be the first state to capitalise on this," Raje added.

She said, "The fundamentals of the Rajasthan economy are based on hardwork& and the huge resilience of its people. This is evident from the performance of the state's agriculture sector."

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley described Rajasthan as a land of history.

"Its cities and villages literally symbolise that history," he said.

The Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit is being held on November 19 and 20, and its objective is to see Rajasthan as the most developed, front-runner state in the country through inclusive and comprehensive development.

Raje had in an earlier message said, "We recognise the role that businesses can play in assisting the state to move to a higher growth trajectory. It is our firm belief that forging partnerships and deepening our engagement with the private sector will allow us to harness the demographic dividend and create a habitat for employment and economic growth."

She described Rajasthan as a state rich in natural resources and a region that enjoyed a "unique spatial advantage".

She said that Rajasthan offers a competitive policy environment, developed infrastructure, a remarkable talent pool and geographic advantage by virtue of its location to investors.

"Promising investment opportunities can be found across a wide range of sectors which include information technology, automotives, renewable energy, tourism, health care, agro processing, minerals, textiles, defence, electronic hardware and MSME. Rajasthan has always valued partnerships in growth. We are constantly striving to simplify regulations and further improve the ease of doing business in the state," she said in her message.