Badal invites US investment
Thursday, 30/05/2013
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=71145&boxid=58261&uid=&dat=2013-05-30
Chandigarh : Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday impressed upon the US Ambassador to India, Nancy J Powell, to make huge investments in the upcoming Medicity and Educity projects at New Chandigarh in Mullanpur, close to Chandigarh.
Badal made this offer to the visiting US envoy, who called on him at his official residence here, this morning.
The Chief Minister apprised Powell that he had already cleared both these projects, being developed as medical and education hubs.
The US Ambassador assured Badal of bringing major investments in these ventures by mobilising US-based entrepreneurs and investors, for which the Chief Minister promised to extend all possible help and cooperation.
Powell said the US embassy had set up an American business desk at Mohali, which would be manned by the Mohali Industrialists Association, to garner investments from US and a nodal officer would be appointed from its embassy to facilitate their entrepreneurs who were keen to make an investment in Punjab.
She appreciated the efforts of the state government for establishing prestigious educational institutes, besides creating world-class infrastructure.
Impressed by the steps initiated by the Chief Minister for the protection of women against the gender-related crimes in the state, Powell said that other states should follow suit to safeguard the rights of women as pioneered in Punjab.
The Chief Minister said he had been inspired by the philosophy and teachings of the first Guru of Sikhs Guru Nanak Dev, who championed the cause of women empowerment.
The Chief Minister apprised Powell that no complainant of gender-related cases was being called at police stations to maintain respect and dignity of the women.
He said 500 women Sub-Inspectors (SIs) would soon be appointed and posted at all the police stations across the state to strengthen the law-enforcing machinery for effectively combating gender-related crime.
Seeking the Chief Minister’s response on the issue of inclusive development, Badal told the US Ambassador that the recent landslide victory of the SAD-BJP alliance in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections was reflective of people’s unstinted support and trust in the policies and programmes of the state government.
Dwelling on the agrarian economy of the state, Badal envisaged Powell’s support in pursuing the agriculture diversification programme through lucrative investments in the agro and food processing industry.
Striking a positive note, Powell assured the Chief Minister that she would persuade key players in the field of healthcare and education based in the US to set up their ventures at the upcoming New Chandigarh.
She also informed Badal that the concept of community college aimed at imparting vocational training could also be launched at Educity in New Chandigarh.
