Raman on US tour eying investment

Amid economic slowdown and demonetisation, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh on Saturday 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 on Saturday 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 Millennium Post.

"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 interact 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 start-up 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 in Chhattisgarh. But despite several foreign tours by elected representatives or officials, the state has not been a favourite destination for the offshore companies.