Devendra Fadanvis inaugurates Maharashtra International Travel Mart

Mumbai 28th September 2015: The Government of Maharashtra’s ambitious international tourism promotion project, Maharashtra International Travel Mart 2015 - popularly known as MITM – was launched today amid the huge number of buyers and sellers of the tourism industry from various countries. The first ever edition of MITM, which is set to take Maharashtra’s robust tourism growth story on a global level was launched today at the gracious hands of Hon. Shri Devendra Fadanvis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra State.

Among eminent dignitaries present at the occasion were Hon. Prof.Shri Ram Shinde, Minister of State for Tourism, Home (Rural), Public Health and Marketing, Hon. Shri Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries, Maharashtra State, Hon SmtVidya Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Hon Shri GajananKirtikar, Member of Parliament, Shri Swadhin Kshatriya, IAS, Chief Secretary, Maharashtra Smt. Valsa Singh Nair, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism & Culture, Maharashtra State, Shri ParaagJaiinNainuttia, IAS, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).

A three-day event, Maharashtra International Travel Mart is a flagship global tourism promotion platform conceived by the Department of Tourism, Maharashtra State to attract buyers and sellers of tourism industry from all across the globe to explore common growth opportunities in the robust tourism prospects of Maharashtra. A single forum of MITM witnessed an exciting response from the global tourism stakeholders with more than 250 registrations coming in from hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators from abroad and India.

A strategic promotional forum of MITM assumes a special significance; particularly when Maharashtra Tourism is going through an exciting phase with ever increasing footfalls from global and domestic tourists crossing the 4.5 million and the 8.4 million mark in the recent past. It also bears a great significance when the State Tourism Department and its flagship agency MTDC have been   strategically building and promoting the unexplored tourism wealth of Maharashtra besides boosting conventional tourism assets on Indian and global circuits.

On the occasion of the inauguration of the first edition of MITM, 2015, said SmtValsa Singh Nair, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Maharashtra State, “While the Government of Maharashtra is intending to bring the State tourism on a global map, it becomes imperative to build further on the existing credentials of the State as the most preferred tourism destination and explore avenues to consolidate its positioning. With vast tourism assets at disposal, it is an opportune time for the State to win a prominent position in a global tourism league. This is possible only when we build and expand a strong tourism buyer and seller network within the State, within the country and on a global level.”

Adding further, she said, “MITM is an endeavour to bring in the maximum number of tourism buyers and sellers on a single platform and empower them to explore economic growth opportunities in Maharashtra’s tourism sector. We are happy to witness such a promising response from buyers and sellers from the globe. We are sure to see a number of partnership, tie-ups happening among tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents. It will also pave the way to attract foreign investments in the sector.”

Shri ParaagJaiinNainuttia IAS, Managing Director MTDC, said, “MITM will help our dedicated campaign of ‘Unlimited Maharashtra’ to reach the next level on a global platform, as more buyers and sellers can witness the State’s tourism prospects. When the State is striving hard to ensure a fast-track growth in tourism sector, MITM will open up an array of economic opportunities for buyers and sellers that will strengthen the eco-system of the State’s tourism. The participation from global tourism players will allow the deliveries of world-class tourism products and services to the visitors enriching their experiences.

MITM will showcase to buyers and sellers economic opportunities in Maharashtra’s compelling tourism destinations, cultural festivals, beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, pilgrimage destinations, wildlife, national parks, social and study tourism and few others. It will also host various seminars.

The Day One of the MITM witnessed over 2,000 footfalls and the number is expected to rise in coming two days. Among various stakeholders, many tour companies from the US, the UK, South Africa, France, Greece, Japan and Australia marked their presence.  

Read the rest of this entry

Adani to invest Rs.25000 Cr in Two Projects in Chhattisgarh

Adani Group, a global integrated player, today signed a MOU with the Government of Chhattisgarh to develop two critical projects in the state. The project cost for both the projects is estimated to be around INR 25, 200 crore. The MOU was signed in the presence of Mr. Raman Singh, Hon’able Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh, Mr. Amar Agrawal, Hon’able Minister of Industry, Mr.Vivek Dhandh, Chief Secretary of State and Mr. Rajesh Adani, Managing Director, Adani Enterprises Ltd.

The two projects comprise of a Coal to Poly‐generation (CTP) Project and a Rice Bran Solvent Extraction Plant &; Refinery. The MOU was signed by Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary-Industries of the State and Mr. Rajesh Jha and Mr. KS Varshney from the Adani Group.

Speaking on the development Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, said, “The Adani Group remains committed to helping India on its path to attaining energy sufficiency. These projects will help the state of Chhattisgarh strengthen its overall socio economic status. We also feel these two projects will play an instrumental role in assisting the larger national agenda of inclusive growth for all and is demonstrative of our continuous efforts of nation building”.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Raman Singh, Hon’able Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh said, “We are delighted with this development and glad to be associated with the Adani group. Both these projects will not only enhance the economic growth of the state but will also create substantial employment opportunities for the people of Chhattisgarh”.

The first project to be set up is a Coal to Poly‐generation (CTP) Project consisting of Ammonia/Urea and Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) Complex via gasification of Indian high ash coal sourced from within the state. The project cost is estimated to be more than INR 25, 000 crore and includes Coal to Urea, Coal to SNG Plant and Coal based Thermal Power Plant.

The CTP project has the potential to generate 5000 jobs as well as substantial revenue to the state of Chhattisgarh. In addition to this, the project will strengthen the overall socio‐ economic status of Chhattisgarh State.

The Proposed CTP Project of Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL) is a unique Project, being set up for the first time in India, based on Coal to Synthetic Energy. Based on the various studies, Adani Enterprises Ltd. believes that the CTP, project would add significant value to the Indian economy. The project will not only help ensuring energy security for India but also drive macroeconomic growth through the coal based fuel.

The second project comprises of setting up a Rice Bran Solvent Extraction Plant and a physical Refinery packing plant at Rajnandgaon in the state of Chhattisgarh. The project cost is estimated to be around INR 200 crore and has the potential to generate more than 600 jobs in the state of Chhattisgarh. The proposed project will not only help in increasing the potential of rice bran oil production in the state but will also help in generating employment and economic growth in the region of operation.

Read the rest of this entry

Chief Minister of Haryana addresses Business Leaders in US

August 20, 2015 – Washington DC- Today a group of U.S. industry executives from the U.S.- India Business Council (USIBC) met with the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr. Manohar Lal for a discussion about investment opportunities in the state of Haryana.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal engaged with senior business executives on important topics that have dominated the bilateral commercial relationship in recent months and addressed areas such as Haryana’s comparative edge as an investment destination and regulatory reform measures that have been undertaken by the government to promote ease of doing business in the state through its New Enterprise Promotion Policy 2015, Happening Haryana.

Emphasizing investment opportunities in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal said, “We strive to attract both international and domestic business in to the state of Haryana. To achieve this end, I am proud of the reform efforts that have gone in to making public services more efficient— land registration is now enabled through information technology (IT), long-pending land acquisition cases have been resolved and infrastructure construction is faster as evidenced by the completion of the Delhi-Faridabad Metro project and restarting of work on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway. We are pushing for policy reforms in a manner that will place Haryana as a business- friendly state and create jobs. I welcome American enterprise to be a part of our state’s growth.”

Lauding the vision of Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Mukesh Aghi, President of USIBC, said, “Since 2000, the state of Haryana has emerged as a major investment hub in Northern India. The city of Gurgaon is a key center for the information technology and automotive industries. The state’s Enterprise Promotion Policy 2015 aims at enhancing ease of doing business, promotes micro, small-scale and medium enterprises and encourages long-term investment in the state to flourish. All these measures are critical for not just enhancing the perception of doing business in India, but also indicate the reality of ease of doing business.”

Sonny Khurana, President and CEO of iTECH, a leading distribution company in the telecom sector, said, "Haryana, with its diversified economy and vibrant cities is well positioned to leverage initiatives such as Make in India and Smart Cities. Emerging markets are important for iTECH’s business model. A pro-growth government, under the visionary leadership of Mr. Manohar Lal, places Haryana as a strong hub for future investment opportunities.”

The round table discussion focused on key areas for investment promotion in the state that include energy related initiatives, aerospace, food processing, auto/auto components and mass rapid transport.

The event was attended by companies and senior leaders from every major sector of business— Blumberg Grain, IREO, Coca Cola, Wipro, Capital Novus, Cargill, Medtronic, Uber and Boston Scientific.

Read the rest of this entry

Odisha Chief Minister giving President's medals to Cops

Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik giving away President's medals to meritorious Police Personnel at Investiture Ceremony at Jaydev Bhawan on August 15, 2015, on the occasion of 69th Independence Day Celebration in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha state. 

Read the rest of this entry

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis addresses Investors in New York

June 30, 2015 – New York- Today a group of U.S. industry executives from the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) met with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis for a discussion about investment opportunities in the state.

Chief Minister Fadnavis engaged with senior business executives on important topics that have dominated the bilateral commercial relationship in recent months and addressed areas such as Maharashtra’s comparative edge as an investment destination, regulatory reform measures that have been undertaken by the government to promote ease of doing business in the state, and cultural dialogues that can enhance the bilateral relations between India and the United States.

Emphasizing the investment opportunities that are available in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, “The Government has taken a variety of measures to promote ease of doing business in the state and we want to be viewed as a top destination for both domestic as well as international investments. The state eagerly awaits the formation of joint ventures in critical projects such as the Delhi - Mumbai Industrial corridor, Smart Cities and in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, engineering and IT. Our Government is committed to providing a boost to both Make in India and Make in Maharashtra campaigns, provide business to both medium and small enterprises and create much-needed jobs. We invite investors from the United States to be a part of Maharashtra’s growth story.”

Lauding the vision of Chief Minister Fadnavis, Mukesh Aghi, President of USIBC, said, “The Council’s member companies have been encouraged by the ease of doing business in Maharashtra. Many of the companies have significant investments in the state. Therefore, appropriate and timely policy measures are critical. USIBC and member companies look forward to participating in the state’s investment opportunities that will not only promote entrepreneurship, but also inclusive growth, positioning it as a model state both in India and globally. I have no hesitation in saying that the state has the potential to emerge as a high ranking state on the ease of doing business index.”

Ashok Vasudevan, Chairman and CEO of Preferred Brands International, manufacturer and marketer of the natural foods brand, Tasty Bite, said, “Tasty Bite has been operating in Maharashtra since the early 90’s and has become one of India’s largest exporter of prepared foods. The state is remarkably resilient due to its diversified base of industry that includes energy, agriculture, food processing, entertainment, engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and financial services. The infrastructure, a mature workforce, a series of business friendly administrations over the last few decades makes it an attractive FDI destination.”

The event was also attended by companies and senior leaders from every major sector of business— Monsanto, Taj Hotels, HSBC, Caterpillar, Cargill, Johnson and Johnson, KPMG, Baker & McKenzie, Citi, New Silk Route and Pfizer.

Read the rest of this entry

Haryana CM Felicitates ITM University Faculty

Dr. D.R Agarwal, Professor Emeritus at School of Management, ITM University, Gurgaon was felicitated by Honourable Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar at a recent public function held at Government (PG) College, Gurgaon, for his outstanding contribution to higher education in the field of literature. Shri. Rao Narbir Singh, Hon’ble Minister PWD & Public Health also graced the occasion.

Dr. Agarwal, who has also worked as Project Economist with Dronacharya Government College, Gurgaon and with Kurukshetra University, was specially appreciated for rendering his services as a dedicated teacher for 54 years without any break. He has been associated with institutes like NIEPA, IGNOU, and NCERT and has earlier been honoured by the Governor of Haryana and many other organisations for his work in the field of education.

Dr. Charu Shri, Head of Department, School of Management, ITM University said on the occasion, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Agarwal for his commendable work in the field of education and literature and made us proud.”

Read the rest of this entry

Odisha Chief Secy: Meet the Housing and Livelihood of Tribal Groups

Meet the housing and livelihood need of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups ( PVTGs) through convergence of various ongoing programmes and projects directed Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati. Chief Secretary gave this direction while presiding over Governing Council Meeting of the Odisha Tribal Development Society ( OTDS) held in secretariat conference hall today wherein Director ST welfare Sri Raghu Prasad Dash presented issues for discussion. 

The Society has also been asked to prepare draft MOUs to be signed with various societies and corporations operating under different departments for convergence and collaboration targeting investment of around Rs.1000 cr during coming two years. Director Scheduled Tribe & Scheduled Caste Research Institute Dr A.B. Hota present in the meeting said that there are around 20,000 PVTGs spread over 20 blocks of 12 districts. They are living in near about 542 habitations. Chief Secretary Sri Pati has directed the Society and the ST & SC research Institute to work out specific action plan for saturating the housing and livelihood need of these vulnerable tribal groups. It may be pertinent to mention here that OTDS has been formed with prime objectives of providing support for planning, implementation and monitoring of tribal development programmes. Providing technical support to the departments and taking up capacity building activities for the stakeholders are other key objectives of the society. 

Chief Secretary Sri Pati has directed to convene the meeting of the society in each 6 month and plan out interventions necessary with feed back from the field. In the meanwhile, the OTDS has taken up Focused Area Development Plan ( FADP) for supporting ST families with viable livelihood options. Around 13 specific land and non-land based livelihood focus areas have been identified. The major ones include wadi- agro horticulture, coffee cultivation, rubber cultivation, commercial vegetable cultivation, improved agriculture, micro enterprise, NTFP collection & marketing, farm mechanization, poultry farming, goat rearing, placement linked skill development, tribal handicraft & handloom. These programmes are being implemented in Champua, Koraput, Jeypore, Rayagada, Gunupur, Th.Rampur, Baliguda, Phulbani, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, Panposh, Bonai, Baripada, Kaptipada, Karanjia, Rairangpur, Paralakhemuni, Malkangiri, Nilagiri, Kuchinda and Keonjhar areas. The programmes are being implemented with the support of Facilitating Non Govt Organizations. 

Chief Secretary has directed to prepare an estimate of around Rs1000 cr. to be invested in augmenting these activities and for providing assistance for house construction. The society has been advised to entre in to agreement with MGNREGA society, NRLM, Odisha Livelihood Mission, ORMAS, National Horticulture Mission, Watershed Mission, Forest Development Corporation etc and to dovetail funds from various housing schemes like Biju Pucca Ghar , IAY etc. The Director, Sri Dash has been asked to prepare these MOUs within a month. Development Commissioner Sri U.N.Behera, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Sri R. Balkrishnan, Principal Secretary Agriculture Sri Rajesh Verma, Secretary Panchayati Raj Sri D.K. Singh, Secretary Fisheries & Animal Resource Development Sri Bishnupada Sethi along with senior officers from concerned departments participated in the discussion.

Read the rest of this entry

Arunachal Pradesh CM Jarbom Gamlin quits

The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Jarbom Gamlin resigned on Friday following leadership crisis in the state. Last week the Congress leaders of the state met the party supremo Sonia Gandhi over his leadership.

The party asked Jarbom Gamlin to resign. Chowma Mein the cabinet minister was abducted at a gunpoint and the chief minister was reportedly accused of in the issue.

Read the rest of this entry

Ghaziabad People to Get Metro Train Tomorrow

Good News for the people of Ghaziabad, as they are going to get the metro services from tomorrow.

For the first time the metro service between Vihar and Vaishali section will begin benefiting local people.

The service at these two stations will resume at 7am on Thursday. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh will inaugurate the 3-km stretch commercial service.

Read the rest of this entry