Jabalpur industrial meet next week

The Madhya Pradesh government will once again make an attempt to woo investors at Jabalpur next week. Although two previous meets, in Khajuraho and Indore, got a lukewarm response from industrialists, the Jabalpur meet may attract mining firms.

"The government is planning to create a special economic zone at Hargarh (near Jabalpur) for mining-based industries. An industrial development centre will also be opened in the area," a senior government official told Business Standard, adding, "the meet will showcase tourism, mining, textile and garments, food processing and agriculture, higher education and health. A separate session for industrialists will also be organised for the investors."

However, it is not known how many industrialists have decided to participate in the two-day meet. Jabalpur is known for its small and medium garment-manufacturing units. These units have a long-pending demand for a separate garment complex where common facilities are available.

Barring the Maneri industrial area in Mandla district, where makers of Ayur brand cosmetics have units, no big player has entered the Jabalpur region, which is also known as Mahakaushal.

Two years ago, tobacco major ITC had planned a pulp and paper unit but poor response and procedural delay from the state government have put the project on the backburner.

A food park planned and created under a Central government scheme also failed to get desirable results. Only a few small investors took interest but frequent changes in policies and poor incentives did not achieve results.

Cement-producing Katni and Satna close to Jabalpur and Mandla, which have tremendous potential in tourism and medicinal plants.

"The non-developed area in nearby Dindori district offers huge potential but state government has to spell out policies and commit faster implementation. None would wait for years in a fast-changing economic scenario," an investor who is likely to participate in the meet told Business Standard on condition of anonymity.