For the first time ever, Stanford University's annual Mirror Conference will be held in Patna on April 5 and 6. The two-day conference will discuss economic policy changes and developmental measures for Bihar.

The conference is yet another attempt by the Nitish Kumar government to change the face of the state after the Global Meet for a Resurgent Bihar held early this year. The conference will serve as a prelude to the eighth annual Conference of Indian Economic Reforms, which is being held in Stanford in June 2007.

The conference will bring together leading academics like Professor T N Srinivasan, Dr Nicholas Hope, Anjini Kochar, Dr Ward Hanson, Professor Jessica Wallack, etc. Apart from specialised papers, the conference will discuss the overall strategy for Bihar's economic growth.

"The conference is expected to generate a meaningful and constructive dialogue on economic policy changes for Bihar and suggest further action," said state Planning Board Deputy Chairman N K Singh.

CM Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the conference and also interact with the participants. Some of the specialised papers that are to be presented at the conference are:

• Sources of Chinese economic growth and lessons for state government

• Poverty in Bihar, Public Private Partnership, Social Gaps in Schooling and Schooling Education Policies