CM Raman Singh on America tour with wife, officials

     Raipur, November 26, 2016: Amid economic slowdown and demonitisation, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh today left Raipur for a nine-day tour of the United States of America with a high level delegation to attract investment for the Maoist-hit state.

     “We will visit New York, Chicago and San Francisco in America and discuss with various business delegations for investment in Chhattisgarh,” Chief Minister Singh told reporters today at the Swami Vivekananda Airport at Raipur before departure for USA via Delhi.

     Veena Singh, wife of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary Vivek Kumar Dhand, Principal Secretary to the CM Aman Kumar Singh, Industry Secretary Subodh Kumar Singh and Director Industries Kartikeya Goel have accompanied the Chief Minister on his US tour and would return back on December 5, official sources told ChhattisgarhTopNews.

     “We will have one-to-one discussions with Indian community in the USA and will also talk about their likely investment in Chhattisgarh,” the Chief Minister said adding on November 28 and 29 he would be in New York to have interaction with about 95 delegations for possible investment in Chhattisgarh.

     Besides discussing with the business leaders from the sectors of Information Technology and food processing, the Chhattisgarh delegation would visit some startup and other companies for possible investment, he said.

     On previous occasions also state BJP government had attempted to attract investment from foreign countries. Singh himself had tried to persuade investors to invest money in Chhattisgarh. But despite several foreign tours by elected representatives and officials, the state has not been a favourite destination for the off shore companies.

     Chhattisgarh is known for best quality iron ore from Baila Dila area of Bastar region, which are being exported to Japan and Korea among others by the central PSU NMDC. The state has huge coal deposits besides bauxite, lime stone and even Tin are available in Bastar region.

     Kimberlitic pipes have been found in eastern part of Chhattisgarh and geologists have predicted good quality of diamond deposits in the Pahilikhand area of Gariaband district. But in the last 16 years the state had not been able to start any work for mining of diamonds, although De beers and Rio Tinto among other companies have expressed their desire to work in the diamond mining activities.