Lalu, Rabri to woo NRIs

Bihar officials said participants in the third Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, to be held in Mumbai from Jan 7, would be approached for investments in state.

After nearly a decade, Bihar is again eyeing NRI investments.

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Bihar government officials said that participants in the third Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas or International Diaspora Day, to be held in Mumbai Jan 7-9, would be approached for investments in projects identified by the state.

Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her husband, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, might attend the meet to personally woo investors, the officials said.

The state government has also directed officials to prepare a report on the potential for NRI investment in areas like agriculture, health, IT and infrastructure.

"We are working out the strategy to persuade NRIs to make investments in the state," Bihar development commissioner GS Kang said.

As chief minister in 1995, Lalu Prasad had undertaken a foreign trip to woo NRIs, but nothing came of it.

Large numbers of NRIs who trace their roots to Bihar reside in Britain, Canada and the US, besides in Arab countries.

A number of Bihari NRIs also work with international organisations like the World Bank, IMF and UN, besides major multinationals.