Chief Minister Raghubar Das today made a strong pitch for Jharkhand, bestowed with "40 percent" of the country's mineral wealth, as an ideal investor destination.
Das, speaking at the inaugural session of the maiden Jharkhand Mining Show 2017 Mining and Minerals Summit, said the state's mineral reserve provides an excellent opportunity for it to surge ahead and be on the driver's seat for India's growth.
"I invite the new players and existing business houses to explore the opportunities offered by the state," he told a large assembly of industry members, including CMDs and CEOs here.
Jharkhand is one of the leading states in India in terms of economic growth, Das said, adding the gross state domestic product stood at 14.6 per cent in 2015-16, compared with 7.6 per cent for pan India.
"The state is endowed with 40 per cent of the country's mineral wealth," he said at the summit, organised by the government of Jharkhand and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The chief minister said the industrial policies implemented by the state are "realistic, dynamic and aligned to the needs of industry".
Jharkhand, Das said, also enjoys a strategic advantage for its proximity to ports in eastern India.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the state government and said Das is "scripting a whole new story for Jharkhand".
"In my view, Jharkhand will decide what will be look of the country in the years to come," Goyal said.
The state government today signed a memorandum of understanding with mining major Coal India Ltd to achieve the goal of providing surplus water from suitable mines for use by habitations located in the command area of CIL subsidiaries in Jharkhand.
Elaborating on its plans in the state, Managing Director of Adani Enterprises, Rajesh Adani, said, "Over the next five years, we (Adani Group) intend investing Rs 20,000 crore across projects...and helping generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
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