Chief Minister and Minister to Visit Foreign Countries Ahead of ‘Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024’

The Bhajan Lal Sharma government in Rajasthan is gearing up for the 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024', scheduled to be held from December 9 to 11, just before completing its first year in office. Preparations are in full swing, and the state government has already received investment proposals worth ₹5.21 lakh crore ahead of the summit.

To ensure the success of the summit and to engage with potential investors, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Industries Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will embark on foreign tours in the coming days. Rathore will visit Switzerland, while Chief Minister Sharma is scheduled to travel to Japan, Korea, and London (Europe). The primary objective of these trips is to connect with expatriates, international companies, and investors before the mega show.

Reliable sources indicate that during his visits to Japan, Korea, and Europe (London), Chief Minister Sharma will explore investment opportunities for Rajasthan and engage with governments and industrialists under various bilateral agreements with the Indian government. He will seek investments in key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, education and skills, automotive and EVs, infrastructure, chemicals and petrochemicals, tourism, startups, mining, ESDM, IT & ITeS, textiles and apparel, among others. Additionally, he will invite potential investors to explore opportunities in Rajasthan's diverse sectors, including solar energy, water, minerals, industries, forests, agriculture, education, and medical tourism.

During these visits, the Chief Minister will also meet with NRIs and Rajasthanis, urging them to invest in their home state and country. This will be his first official foreign tour since assuming office in December last year, though the exact dates of the trip have not been finalized yet.

Before the Chief Minister’s visit, a delegation led by Rajasthan's Industries and Commerce, Youth Affairs and Sports, Information Technology and Communications, Skill, Planning and Entrepreneurship, and Sainik Welfare Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will travel to Switzerland. This delegation, which includes the state's Principal Secretary for Industries Ajitabh Sharma, other state officials, and representatives from the Export Promotion Council, will discuss investment opportunities in Rajasthan with Swiss government representatives and other investors under various bilateral agreements.

On Wednesday, in New Delhi, Rajasthan's Industries Minister Colonel Rathore met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Following the meeting, Rathore posted on social media platform X, stating, “Received some excellent ideas from Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman for Rising Rajasthan. Under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and with the support of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, we are committed to transforming the state into a business-friendly and industrial hub, creating massive employment opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant directed all departments to work in mission mode to ensure the success of the 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024' during a review meeting held in Jaipur. He emphasized the need for all departments to prioritize identifying and expanding investment opportunities in key sectors and to finalize new policies as soon as possible.

The focus is on preparing new and upcoming policies, assessing key infrastructure, logistics, and investment opportunities to ensure the successful and impactful organization of the summit. During the meeting, Industries Department Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma announced that the Rajasthan government is set to organize a series of roadshows in major business cities across the country and the world to showcase investment opportunities in the state on a global platform. The first roadshow will be held in Mumbai on August 30, 2024. The three-day mega summit aims to attract large and small companies, international organizations, and investors to work in Rajasthan, help set up various industries, and provide necessary facilities.

The dates for the summit were announced, and the logo was launched by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on August 1. Additionally, Sharma also launched the state government’s ‘Single-Point Investor Interface’ to allow interested investors to submit their proposals or MoU intentions online. Within two weeks of this platform's launch, the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP), the nodal department for the summit, received investment proposals worth ₹5.21 lakh crore—a first in the state's history.

The 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024' will be organized under the aegis of the Rajasthan government in collaboration with the Industries and Commerce Department, BIP, and Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO). The summit will feature special sessions on various sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, education and skills, automotive and EVs, infrastructure, chemicals and petrochemicals, tourism, startups, mining, and ESDM/IT & ITeS.

Over the past three decades, both Congress and BJP governments in Rajasthan have organized several global investment summits under different names, attracting prominent industrialists and representatives from reputed organizations. However, the actual on-ground realization of the large investment claims made during these summits remains an open question. It remains to be seen how much investment will materialize and be implemented in the state through the Bhajan Lal government’s upcoming summit.