“Set up Little Singapore in Rajasthan” Raje Business Seminar in Singapore

Singapore October 15, 2014 : Chief Minister, Rajasthan attributed the improvement in investment climate in India to the vision and initiatives of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Speaking at the Business Seminar in Singapore today, Chief Minister Raje was categorical that improving the ‘ease of doing business’ is something which the Indian Prime Minister is personally championing and Rajasthan is committed to having an extremely investment friendly environment. Addressing the gathering, she appreciated the quality infrastructure in Singapore and said she would like to carry back inputs from the city-state, which will lead to a quantum change in quality of human resources in Rajasthan.

“Essential for any healthy economy is people power and Singapore is a living example of how to harness the demographic dividend. This is exactly what we need to do in Rajasthan”, said the Chief Minister. Raje talked at length highlighting Rajasthan’s strengths and the opportunities it offers. She invited Singapore businesses to consider Rajasthan as a destination for investment and expansion and even went on to offer facilitation to set up a ‘Little Singapore’ – a smart city in Rajasthan – in the vicinity of DMIC. She also highlighted the engagement of Rajasthan with Hyflux and ITE.

Around 150 representatives of Singapore Industry, Banking, Education and Service sectors attended the business meeting today. A short film on investment opportunities in Rajasthan was screened and Principal Secretary, Industries, Government of Rajasthan Veenu Gupta made a detailed presentation. Mr. Banjamin Yap, South Asia Regional Director, International Enterprise, Singapore and Mr. Hiroshi Daikoku, Senior Investment Advisor, Japan External Trade Relations Organization shared their experiences about investing in Rajasthan. The participants were extremely enthusiastic about Rajasthan Solar Policy and the employment linked labour sector reform agenda and expressed their desire to see the fruits of these efforts on the ground. Mr. Arun Nanda of Mahindra World City, Salil Singhal, Secure Meters Ltd. and Rohit Saboo, National Engineering Industrial Limited invited Singapore Businesses to partner in Rajasthan’s growth.

In course of the business meet, terms of reference for a cooperation between Hyflux International PTE Ltd. and the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP), Rajasthan for Hyflux participation in tendered and CSR Projects in the drinking water and wastewater in Rajasthan was agreed upon. Similarly terms of reference were finalized for a partnership between Government of Rajasthan (BIP) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), an agency of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministries of the Singapore Government. This partnership would look at collaboration in urban development, affordable housing, public health and education. In either case, final MoUs would be signed after clearances from the Government of India.

India’s High Commissioner to Singapore also addressed the audience. Shri Tanmay Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister delivered the vote of thanks.

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Speech