Bihari babus head to US to woo NRIs

The high-level team will attend a 3-day seminar organised by Stanford Univ for interactive session with keen investors.

A high level team of Bihar's bureaucrats headed by Chief Secretary GS Kang are leaving for the US on Monday to market the state as an attractive destination and woo investors, particularly NRIs.

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The team, which will also include State Planning Commission Chairman NK Singh, will attend a three-day seminar organised by the Stanford University for an interactive session with keen investors.

The university's Centre of International Development had invited Chief Minister for an interactive session during the seminar, but he was too busy and decided to send top officials of the state instead.

According to Kang, this was a big opening for Bihar and an opportunity to initiate lobbying for investment.

Earlier, a high level Bihar government delegation led by Nitish Kumar had attended the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or International Diaspora Day at Hyderabad on January 7-9, 2006, to showcase the state as an investment destination.

Bihar is keen for foreign investment in the sectors of agriculture, health, IT, tourism and infrastructure.

In a bid to attract investors, the government has made some policy changes, including single window clearance and special incentives.

However, there are some who feel that Nitish Kumar should have taken the trouble to go to the US.

"Investors would feel more comfortable with a team headed by Nitish Kumar," said an industrialist and a member of the Bihar Industry Association.

Added Ajay Kumar, who owns the news portal Bihartimes.com: "Political leaderships are considered decision makers not bureaucrats."