Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has postponed his scheduled tour to South Korea, as the government of that country has sought more time to study the projects in Maharashtra where they would invest on a large scale.
As per his itinerary, Fadnavis was supposed to visit South Korea between August 18 to 24. However, the tour has now been rescheduled between September 10 to 15.
"South Korea has informed us that it needs more time to study the projects in which they would be investing because the money involved is huge," an official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said today.
The Korean Land and Housing Corporation (KLHC), an undertaking of the South Korean government that specialises in land development, town planning and creation of housing stock, had signed an MOU with the Centre to invest 10 billion USD in India in October last year.
The KLHC will invest in development of 24 smart cities (Navnagar) along the proposed 710-km Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Corridor, redevelopment of the government employees colony located in suburban Bandra on 93-acre land and in the affordable housing scheme in Mumbai, the official said.
Another reason to put off the tour was the prevailing tensions between North Korea and Japan, and its indirect impact on South Korea, according to the official.
"The South Korean government is concerned about the safety and security of the chief minister. Japan has warned North Korea of using nuclear and developing inter-continental ballistic missiles against it. As a neighbouring nation, South Korea did not take any risks during the high profile foreign delegation's visit," he said.
The prevailing drought-like condition in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of the state was also on Fadnvis' mind.
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