Ficci's MP programme postponed, CM in the dark

How bureaucrats of MP manage to keep the chief minister in the dark has been evidenced by the way the department of industry has postponed an important economic event without bringing it to the notice of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

The event is "Destination Madhya Pradesh 2007", a mega programme to invite big-ticket investment in the state.

The programme was scheduled to be jointly organised in January by the Madhya Pradesh government and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).

Ficci has readied a detailed time-bound programme "Destination Madhya Pradesh "� Global Investment Summit 2007" to showcase Madhya Pradesh and attract investment, particularly from Non-Resident Indians.

An insider at the chief minister's secretariat said, "Chauhan is ignorant about the development and he will talk to top Ficci officials in this regard."

However, sources also said Chauhan was trying to hold the programme in January.

A Ficci source said, "The programme slated for January has been postponed till September next year. A date will be announced later." According to him, the department of industries has communicated this to Ficci.

Ficci, however, would continue to showcase Madhya Pradesh at various roadshows as scheduled, said the source. Officials of the state industry department were not available for comment.

The chief minister has also cancelled a visit to the US recently (this was also organised by Ficci) slated for September 17-25. But the chief minister's secretariat did not give the reasons.

Ficci and a government body, Trade and Facilitation Corporation, have been allocated Rs 1 crore, of the total sanctioned budget of approximately Rs 3.50 crore for the purpose.

The FICCI has adopted a strategy to showcase MP on "Second Generation Development Roadmap."

It also includes survey work. Promotion of agriculture, derisking of agriculture, employment and marketing of projects are main agenda of the programme. The government will seek investment from United States, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, China, Italy and other countries.

FICCI has also proposed a special economic zone for textiles sector, a technology cluster in Gwalior and some facilities in Jabalpur and Rewa. The FICCI-MP project is basically replication of FICCI-Gujarat project.