Pravasi Diwas: State all set to woo investors

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 7

After the “Happening Haryana” business summit, Haryana is all set to woo its investor diaspora for the two-day Pravasi Haryana Diwas to be held in Gurugram in January.

Sources said the government had set aside a budget of nearly Rs 7 crore for the programme during which a cultural programme and various sessions to market the state as a lucrative investment destination would be held. Also, the investors would be taken for “Haryana darshan” to provide them a peek into the Haryanavi culture.

While 3,000 invites have already been sent out to investors of the Haryanavi origin settled abroad, the Industries Department will be holding roadshows in the cities of Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai to woo those hailing from the state, now settled in other parts of the country. Sources maintained that the department had started receiving confirmations of participation from those invited.

Those showing up for the Pravasi Diwas, being organised now as a part of the state’s golden jubilee celebrations, will be practically state guests with the department deciding to make arrangements for their stay and travel.

Sources said the Industries Department had also tied up with the state’s Tourism Department to make arrangements for their travel to various cities of the state with a view not only incentivise the visit, but also to market places of tourist interest.

“The programme will be attended by NRIs of the Haryana origin, Pravasi Haryanvis, settled elsewhere in India and the state would endeavour to obtain investment business as also their help in philanthropic activities,” an official stated.

During the Pravasi Haryana Diwas, several meetings between existing Haryana businessmen and NRI businessmen and between NRI businessmen and government officers would be arranged.

The department has also proposed to honour “Pravasi/desi Haryanvis” who have made commendable achievements in their fields. A grievance portal for NRIs is also likely to be launched and will be linked to the CM Grievances Portal.

The Pravasi Diwas was originally planned with this year’s Happening Haryana summit organised in March. However, the arson and violence during the Jat agitation in February had cast a shadow on the event. As fallout of the agitation, the government had decided to go ahead with the summit and postpone the Pravasi Diwas for a later date.