RAIPUR/MUMBAI: Chhattisgarh is opening new avenues for foreign direct investment (FDI) with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai engaging in discussions with US Consul General Mike Hankey and Russian Consul General Ivan Y. Fetisov to explore investment opportunities in the state's health, education, IT, and tourism sectors on Thursday.

During the second leg of the investment meet held in Mumbai, the state secured industrial proposals worth ₹6,000 crore, with significant contributions from sectors such as plastic, textiles, IT, and food processing. The highest investment proposal, amounting to ₹2,367 crore, came from Ambuja Cement.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the new industrial policy has helped attract ₹1 lakh crore in investments through Investor Connect meets in Raipur, Delhi, and Mumbai. Industrialists from India and abroad discussed potential investments aimed at boosting Chhattisgarh's industrial growth and generating employment opportunities.

Chief Minister Sai emphasized the features of the state's Industrial Policy for 2024-30, which operates under the motto 'Minimum Governance, Maximum Incentives'. Streamlined processes for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and single-window clearance systems have been implemented to ease the investment process.

Key highlights of the policy includes, industries investing ₹1,000 crore or employing 1,000 people are eligible for capital investment benefits ranging from 30% to 50%, amounting to ₹200 crore to ₹450 crore. Attractive packages for net SGST reimbursement, employment and EPF reimbursement, and training expenses reimbursement for 5 to 12 years.

For the emerging industries special provisions for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Computing, and Green Hydrogen, alongside the launch of a data centre in Nava Raipur to strengthen its IT hub potential.

Nava Raipur, a modern Greenfield city, has emerged as a significant IT destination, with several companies already operational. The establishment of a pharmaceutical park in Nava Raipur is poised to become Central India's largest, further boosting the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

In Bastar, a new industrial area spanning 118 acres is planned in the village of Niyanar near the Nagarnar Steel Plant. This hub will focus on developing small, micro, and medium enterprises.

Bastar and Surguja have been designated as high-priority regions for industrial promotion, with incentives in core sectors, including discounts of 50% to 100% on iron and coal royalties and cess reimbursement of up to 150%.

These initiatives aim to position Chhattisgarh as a prime investment destination, fostering economic growth and creating thousands of employment opportunities in the region.