Satyendra Pathak
Doha
As part of the international outreach for the upcoming ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024, Col Rajyavardhan Rathore, Industry and Commerce Minister of Government of Rajasthan, led a high-level delegation to Doha on Thursday.
The delegation participated in an investors’ roadshow aimed at attracting investments from Qatar into key sectors in India’s Rajasthan. During the event, Rathore extended an official invitation to the Qatari business community to participate in the summit, which will be held from December 9 to 11, 2024, in Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital.
In his address, Rathore said, “Rajasthan, with its vast natural resources and prime location, is emerging as a business-friendly destination. We have undertaken a complete overhaul of our policies, rules, and guidelines to enhance the ease of doing business, ensuring a more conducive environment for investors. The political will is clear, as the ‘Rising Rajasthan’ summit is being organised in the very first year of our government’s tenure. This early timing gives us ample time to convert investment proposals into tangible projects on the ground. We are also focused on reducing the cost of doing business, making Rajasthan a cost-competitive state for investors.”
Echoing same sentiments during the roadshow, Indian Ambassador to Qatar HE Vipul said, “The Government of Rajasthan’s upcoming ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024 has the potential to strengthen the state’s ties with Qatar. I urge investors and the business community to visit Rajasthan, especially considering the significant business reforms being implemented by the state. The Indian Embassy is fully committed to facilitating and strengthening the partnerships between Rajasthan and the Qatar-based business community.”
Sourabh Swami, additional commissioner (investments) at the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP) in Rajasthan, presented a detailed overview of Rajasthan’s key growth sectors and investment opportunities during the roadshow. He highlighted the state’s ambitious goal of becoming a $350 billion economy while doubling its exports in the coming years. The presentation underscored the importance of collaboration with Qatar-based industries, particularly in sectors such as real estate, agritech, logistics, and petrochemicals.
Swami also highlighted Rajasthan’s investor-friendly initiatives, including a one-stop shop single window clearance system, a simplified regulatory framework, and a digitized GIS-enabled industrial land database. He further emphasised the wide range of fiscal incentives available to investors, encouraging the Qatari business community to explore the abundant opportunities Rajasthan has to offer.
Earlier in his meetings with prominent Qatari business leaders and government officials, including Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malk, undersecretary at Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Rathore highlighted the investment potential of Rajasthan. He emphasised the state’s strategic location, robust natural resources, and recent reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
During discussions with leading Qatari companies such as real estate and hospitality giant CDC, and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Rajasthan delegation rolled out the red carpet for potential investors. The team invited Qatari businesses to explore investment opportunities across several key sectors, including Real Estate, Infrastructure, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Renewable Energy, Education and Skilling, Auto and Electric Vehicles (EV), Tourism, Startups, Mining, and the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM)/Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS) sectors.
Before arriving in Qatar, Rathore’s delegation visited the UAE as part of a three-day international outreach mission for the ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024. The team held successful discussions with several UAE-based companies and government officials, fostering interest in Rajasthan’s evolving business landscape. The delegation included key members such as Sidharth Sihag, joint secretary to the chief minister of Rajasthan, and Sourabh Swami, along with other senior officials from the Rajasthan government.
The Government of Rajasthan is conducting an extensive outreach campaign across major global and Indian commercial centers as part of its preparation for the ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024. Earlier this year, a high-level delegation led by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited South Korea and Japan. During these visits, several companies and associations expressed a keen interest in exploring business opportunities in Rajasthan, further solidifying the state’s reputation as an emerging global investment destination.
The ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024 will be held from December 9 to 11, 2024, in Jaipur. The summit aims to attract and facilitate global investments, innovation, and partnerships in Rajasthan across a variety of sectors. The event will feature special plenary sessions on key focus areas, including Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Education and Skilling, Auto and EV, Infrastructure, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Tourism, Startups, Mining, and ESDM/IT and ITeS, among others.
The Qatar leg of the investors’ roadshow was organised in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), which is the summit partner for the event. PwC India has been appointed as the knowledge partner for the summit, adding expertise and insights to ensure a successful and impactful event.
As Rajasthan continues its journey toward becoming a preferred global investment destination, the collaboration and partnerships fostered during the international outreach campaigns, including the Qatar leg of the roadshow, are expected to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity for the state.
