Maharashtra Considering Another Convention

The Maharashtra government is considering a second advantage Maharashtra convention to offer some more projects for foreign investment.

We have not covered all sectors, state chief secretary Dinesh Afzalpurkar, told the delegates of the convention at a dinner meeting on Sunday night. He said food processing and agro-based sector could be offered for the next convention.

Projects in the power, housing, ports, airport, real estate/industrial township and technological parks/leisure and entertainment sectors are being offered for bidding to various firms.

Afzalpurkar said the code of conduct due to the municipal elections has hampered the advertising of this mega event as it might influence the voters. He, however, was confident that the concept, for which planning began six months ago, would pave the way for more investments into the state.

Leading NRI Srichand Hinduja said the Centre should offer similar projects, state-wise and sector-wise, and hold shows abroad to attract the investors.

Chua Shin Han, managing director of Kuala Lumpur-based Autoways Construction, and his deputy Mohd Aizat Teh, describing India as a land of opportunities for foreign investment, said they were interested in power and low-cost housing projects in the state. They have already made a bid for four 25 mw power projects in Madhya Pradesh and 160 mw project in Mangalore, worth $300 million.

Asked if the Enron issue deterred them, they said it was an issue for the West but it is dead to us.

Hemant Shah, representing the Winnipeg chamber of commerce, said Maharashtra had a lot to offer but unfortunately investors in North America were not aware of the opportunities available here. This was despite an MoU signed between the chamber and Sicom, one of the organisers of the convention.

He described this event as a great road show and suggested that the state government should make use of the Winnipeg chamber for investment opportunities.