Raipur, September 29, 2026: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai today said that since the implementation of the new industrial policy, the state has received investment proposals totaling approximately Rs 8.23 lakh crore.
The Chief Minister noted that this investment process is not limited to mere proposals; work on the ground has already commenced for numerous projects.
He remarked that alongside traditional industries, investment opportunities in Chhattisgarh are rapidly expanding into sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, data centers, semiconductors, textiles, and other emerging fields. The state’s natural resources, energy capacity, central geographical location, and continuously improving road, rail, and air connectivity are further strengthening Chhattisgarh’s potential for investment and entrepreneurship.
Addressing students, young innovators, and startup entrepreneurs from across the state at the three-day ‘Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conclave-2026’ held at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University in Raipur, Sai stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed a resolve before the nation to build a Developed India by 2047. In line with this resolve, Chhattisgarh is also advancing towards becoming a developed state. A target has been set to grow the state’s economy to approximately Rs 75 lakh crore by 2047.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this goal would be achieved not solely through government efforts, but through the participation of the state’s youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers, and every citizen. The new generation, in particular, must step forward in the fields of technology, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
He stated that Chhattisgarh’s youth power is the state’s greatest asset for the future. Our endeavor is for the youth of the state to become creators of new employment opportunities, leveraging their skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship, rather than merely being job seekers. Youth, innovators, and startups will play a pivotal role in building a developed Chhattisgarh. The state government is providing the necessary environment, infrastructure, technical support, and incentives to transform the ideas of the youth into innovations, and those innovations into successful enterprises.
The Chief Minister stated that today’s youth do not merely wait for opportunities; they possess the capability to create new opportunities through their talent. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that their ideas receive the right platform, technical support, financial assistance, and a conducive policy environment. With this vision, the startup and innovation ecosystem in the state is being strengthened.
Responding to a question about the state government’s role in transforming youth ideas into businesses, Chief Minister Sai mentioned that work is underway on the ‘Chief Minister Startup and Nipun Yojana’ to encourage the state’s sons and daughters to venture into entrepreneurship. A provision of Rs 500 crore has been made for this initiative.
He noted that various schemes from both the central and state governments, including the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, are encouraging youth towards self-employment and entrepreneurship. Chhattisgarh’s new Industrial Policy-2024 also incorporates numerous incentives for new entrepreneurs. Special encouragement is being provided for entrepreneurship among various sections of society, including women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and persons with disabilities. Special provisions have also been made for industries that generate significant local employment.
The Chief Minister urged the youth to study the new industrial policy carefully and make the most of the opportunities it offers. New industrial parks are being developed across the state. Procedures have been streamlined through a single-window system so that young people and investors wishing to set up industries do not have to make unnecessary rounds of multiple government offices.
The Chief Minister stated that the expansion of key routes, including the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor, and other connectivity projects would further improve Chhattisgarh’s access to the country’s major economic hubs. This would yield direct benefits for sectors such as industry, trade, agriculture, tourism, and employment.
During an interaction with the youth, Chief Minister Sai shared experiences from his farming background and his village, Bagiya. He mentioned that he hails from a farming family and has personally been involved in agricultural activities, including ploughing fields and animal husbandry; consequently, he possesses a close understanding of both the challenges and the immense potential within the agricultural sector.
He noted that Chhattisgarh is an agrarian state. By integrating modern technology and innovation into agriculture, vast entrepreneurial opportunities can be created for the youth. Young people can leverage their talents in fields such as biotechnology, food processing, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy, alongside agriculture.
Sai remarked that nature has endowed Chhattisgarh with exceptional wealth in the form of minerals, forest resources, and agricultural biodiversity. The need of the hour is to ensure better value addition for these resources so that local communities reap greater benefits.
He pointed out that forest produce, such as tamarind, mahua, custard apple, and medicinal plants, is available in abundance in the state’s forest regions, including Bastar. Youth can establish new enterprises by focusing on modern processing, attractive packaging, branding, and marketing of these products. This would not only boost local employment in forest areas but also strengthen the regional economy.
Responding to a question from a young entrepreneur regarding the export of aromatic rice, the Chief Minister affirmed that Chhattisgarh is truly the ‘Rice Bowl’ of the country. The state boasts numerous unique and aromatic paddy varieties, such as Javaphool, Vishnubhog, Hanumanbhog, and Sheetalchini. Thousands of paddy varieties are currently being conserved by the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University.
He emphasized that the focus should not remain limited to agricultural production alone; instead, a comprehensive value chain encompassing processing, packaging, branding, value addition, and exports must be developed. This will enable farmers to secure better prices for their produce and create new markets and opportunities for agriculture-based startups.
During the conclave, the youth engaged in an open dialogue with the Chief Minister. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including startup funding, collateral requirements for loans, support from government schemes, employment generation, better utilization of the skills of horticulture students, the social media and influencer ecosystem, and opportunities arising from the proposed Film City.
The Chief Minister encouraged the youth to seize available opportunities and step forward in the field of entrepreneurship. He noted that the nature of employment and business is evolving rapidly with the times. Keeping in mind the aspirations of the youth and advancing technology, the state government is continuously working on creating new possibilities and necessary systems to meet future needs. He urged the youth to have the courage to experiment rather than fear failure. A new idea becomes a catalyst for change only when it is combined with hard work, skill, and entrepreneurship.
Chief Minister Sai inspected the newly constructed Subhash Chandra Bose Biotechnology Incubation Center located on the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University campus. He gathered information about the state-of-the-art laboratories, scientific equipment, and facilities available for startups, and held discussions with scientists and experts.
The Chief Minister inspected various modern laboratories at the center, including the Biosafety Level Lab, Animal Culture Lab, Microbial Cell Lab, and Plant Tissue Culture Lab. Facilities developed for startups at the center include incubation space, dry and wet labs, plug-and-play offices, a common instrumentation lab, analytical testing services, and equipment ranging from basic to high-end.
The Chief Minister stated that for the state’s students, researchers, and startups, this center would serve not merely as a laboratory, but as a vital platform for the journey from “idea to innovation” and “innovation to enterprise.” Here, young people will be able to take their innovative ideas beyond the research stage and transform them into useful products and successful enterprises. Through the incubation center, startups will be provided with mentoring, hand-holding support, technology transfer, product development assistance, and institutional backing. Students will also gain opportunities for dissertations and internships.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this center would serve as a strong bridge between research and industry, thereby imparting new momentum to Chhattisgarh’s innovation ecosystem in the fields of agriculture and biotechnology.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Sai also planted a Maulsri sapling on the incubation center premises as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree in Mother’s Name) campaign. He conveyed a message emphasizing the importance of linking environmental conservation with public participation and encouraged large-scale tree plantation and their preservation.
Startups from various sectors, including agriculture and agritech, food processing and value addition, biotechnology, rural entrepreneurship, digital technology, artificial intelligence, deep-tech, renewable energy, and the environment, are showcasing their innovations, technologies, and products at the three-day Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conclave.
The conclave has provided a common platform for students, researchers, innovators, startups, investors, and the industry to engage in dialogue regarding the potential to link new ideas with technology, markets, and investment.
Sai stated that there is no dearth of talent or capability among the youth of Chhattisgarh; what is needed is to provide them with opportunities and the right platform. The government stands firmly behind the dreams and resolutions of the youth.
He expressed confidence that, driven by their talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit, the state’s youth would not only advance themselves but also create employment and opportunities for thousands of others.
Urging the youth to step forward, the Chief Minister remarked that if the youth progress, Chhattisgarh progresses; furthermore, providing opportunities for youth-led innovation will strengthen the resolve to build a developed Chhattisgarh by the year 2047.
Senior officials, including Dr Girish Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, along with scientists, young entrepreneurs, startup representatives, and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
