S Africa, Georgia want to do business with Uttarakhand

South Africa is one of the countries that have evinced interest in investing in sectors like infrastructure and tourism in Uttarakhand.

South African High Commissioner H M Majeke, who attended the Second Ambassadors' Meet which concluded here yesterday, told the organisers that his country would like to invest in infrastructure facilities like airport in the hill state. "South Africa has identified Uttarakhand as one of the important places for investments," Majeke said.

This is a very good opportunity for a country like South Africa, which is ready to build airports in Uttarakhand," said Pankaj Gupta, president of the Indian Association of Uttarakhand, which organised the two-day business meet.

Georgia has also said it would like to develop a partnership with Uttarakhand in the tourism sector, the hill state being bestowed with an immense natural bounty.

Majeke also invited Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and industrialists from the state to visit South Africa to hold business talks. South Africa also agreed to open a diplomatic office in the state.

Majeke also showed keen interest in the animal husbandry sector and also visited the Kalsi livestock breeding centre near Dehradun.

The chief minister, on the other hand, invited foreign investments in sectors like health, tourism, industry and infrastructure. The state government would also chalk out an action plan to attract mega investments and launch a new industrial policy, he asserted.

Stating that the literacy rate of Uttarakhand was higher than the country’s average, he said that the government was giving special attention to skill development, so that the maximum number of youths could benefit from the establishment of industries.

Describing balanced development an important aspect, he said that his government was committed to the development of basic infrastructure in backward hill and border areas.

Laying emphasis on connectivity, the chief minister said that efforts were being made for the development of road, railway and air connectivity in the state.

Describing hydropower and tourism as key growth drivers for the state's economy, he said that air service between Dehradun and Kathmandu was on the anvil.

“All possible facilities will be provided to the investors,” he said.

Bahuguna also said that the development of a new industrial estate at Sitarganj in the Kumaon region would propel industrial development and proposed the creation of logistic hubs, to benefit industrial units

BS.