State will try its best to ensure it’s Advantage Vidarbha, says CM

CM Prithviraj Chavan said Thursday the state government would try its best to bring investment in Vidarbha, "though nothing concrete can be said about how many or which proposals will materialise at the forthcoming Advantage Vidarbha programme".

The two-day programme begins here on February 25.

Talking exclusively to The Indian Express on phone, Chavan said, "I am not hyping it. This is a dry run, a kind of learning curve. We will try our level best. But industries will not come to Vidarbha just because they love it. It all depends on how we market our new industrial policy.

"We would want locals (entrepreneurs and industry leaders) to present their case in the best possible manner. They might make a mistake, but let them do it."

Asked if industries would be given special incentives to set up units here, Chavan said, "No, it will all be as per the new industrial policy. But a lot of people are showing interest. Let them come to Nagpur, see Nagpur. A beginning has to be made."

Union heavy industries minister and Congress Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda has emphasised the need for special incentives to make Vidarbha an attractive investment destination.

When told road shows in the past in places such as Singapore yielded nothing for Nagpur, Chavan said, "I don't know what happened 10 years ago. We haven't done it before. So we are going to try our best."

About Butibori and MIHAN projects not making any headway, he said, "For a few years, there was economic slowdown. But two IT giants are coming to MIHAN. Others may follow. But I-T hubs are anyway going to tier-2 cities. So, our attempt will be to bring textiles and manufacturing units in Vidarbha."

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