Indian-origin South Carolina governor Nikki Haley today said that the Centre needs to ensure predictability in its laws so as to create a strong business environment and attract foreign investors.
"The government should make sure that business environment is strong by reducing regulations and taxes, and by making sure that ease to do business improves. More importantly, predictability and trust in laws and regulations is a must," Haley told reporters here.
She further said companies are risk-averse and if they are investing heavily in a country they want to ensure that the rules don't change later.
"A company that wants to come and do business needs predictability; they should know exactly what to expect from the government in terms of rules and predictability that the rules are not going to change in future," Haley said.
She further said, "What we are now seeing globally is that businesses want to go to a country where there is no risk. To commit an investment, they want to be sure that you are not going to change the rules after some years.
So, trust is really important for any country trying to get businesses. I certainly think that would benefit India," Haley said, who won a second term in the recent polls, without referring to any of the contentious laws in the country.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, "The Prime Minister has vision and is a man of action.. I am very impressed with what Modi has been doing."
Haley, the youngest amongst the current US state governors, said she is looking at Indian pharma companies to invest in her state.
"We are willing to help them find a proper location with the right resources in place and we also give tax credits. We have some pharma companies in the state but the demand is really strong," she said.
Stating that 95 per cent of her state's economy is controlled by small businesses, Haley said she is keen to get Indian companies to invest and added that if South Carolina firms don't do business with India, it would be a missed opportunity for them.
