Mumbai: The much-anticipated two-day "Bihar Business Connect 2024 – Global Investors' Summit" was inaugurated today at Gyan Bhawan, Patna, by the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar. The grand event was graced by the presence of Shri Samrat Chaudhary, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar; Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar; Shri Nitish Mishra, Minister of Industries-cum-Tourism; Shri Santosh Kumar Suman, IT Minister; Shri Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Energy Minister and Shri Santosh Kumar Singh, Labour Minister. The Bihar Business Connect 2024 is a landmark initiative of the Department of Industries aimed at promoting industrial development across the state, fostering growth and creating new opportunities.
A total of six sessions were conducted on the first day of the two-day event. The inaugural session was themed Investment Opportunities in Bihar. It began with the dignitaries present symbolically watering plants, reflecting the Bihar Government's commitment to environmental conservation. Shri Alok Ranjan Ghosh, Director of the Industries Department, delivered the welcome address, extending warm greetings to the esteemed guests, investors and attendees from across the country. He said, “I invite each one of you to tap into our state's vibrant ecosystem and become a part of our shared growth narrative to make this vision a reality. The government of Bihar has crafted Bihar industrial investment policy, a sector-agnostic blueprint. We have also introduced specific policies to energize key sectors like textile and leather. There are specific policies also in the pipeline. Incentives under the policies are designed to attract and sustain investments. We also offer tailor-made incentive packages to help fulfill their vision.”
Smt. Bandana Preyashi, Secretary of the Industries Department, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the theme Investment Opportunities in Bihar during the inaugural session. She highlighted the immense industrial potential in Bihar and provided detailed insights into various incentives offered by the government to promote investment in the state. She mentioned in her presentation, “Our sector policies are very liberal, and we are aggressively working towards stakeholder consultations and sector-specific development. We are coming up with progressive policies like the Bihar Food Processing Policy, Pharmaceutical Policy, Manufacturing Promotion Policy, and Bio-Production Policy to further attract investments. We are creating an ecosystem where small and medium enterprises complement larger industries, promoting a collective journey toward industrialization. We are committed to promoting green, renewable industries and empowering women by making them an integral part of the labour force. We invite you to explore Bihar—our infrastructure is amazing, and we have a dedicated labour force ready to support industrial growth.”
Addressing the session, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri Samrat Chaudhary stated, “Over time, things gradually changed, and technology became the driving force behind the nation's progress. Since independence, Bihar once held the top position in the country. While others advanced with technology, Bihar lagged behind. Today, we are ready to reclaim our place. With a population of 14 crore and a wealth of skilled youth excelling in exams like the UPSC, our potential is immense. It’s time to harness this talent, uplift every section of our society, and drive Bihar forward.”
Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha remarked, “Bihar has a rich history of industries. Over the past two decades, under the guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar, we have strengthened the industrial environment here, resulting in increased interest from investors. We have maintained double-digit growth for the past fifteen years. There has been rapid progress across all sectors of industries in the state. For the first time, Bihar has emerged as a rapidly growing hub for mines on the national map. Additionally, we have developed a favourable policy for the growth of the film industry and created better locations for shooting. Moreover, in terms of infrastructure development, we have become an example in the country. In the coming times, Bihar is ready to write a new success story.”
Hon’ble Labour Minister Shri Santosh Kumar Singh added, “It feels like Bihar is truly leading the way. Progress is impossible without a skilled workforce, regardless of the number of industries established. In Bihar, with a population of 14 crore and 60% actively engaged in the workforce, we are at the forefront of skilling our youth. To meet industry-specific needs, Bihar has established 2,400 skill development centres across the state. This ensures that businesses won’t need to look elsewhere for talent. Our efforts are aimed at making Bihar self-sufficient in creating a skilled and dynamic workforce aligned with the demands of modern industries. Bihar’s legacy in industrial excellence is remarkable. In 1938, the Dalmia factory was inaugurated by Shri Subhash Chandra Bose, and in 1939, a pioneering paper mill was established. This heritage demonstrates our long-standing commitment to progress and innovation, ensuring that the state remains a hub for industrial development.”
During this session, Shri Nand Kishore, MD, Bihar State Tourism Corporation; Shri Satyajit Kumar Singh, Chairman, CII; Shri Suman Kumar, Executive Director, IOCL; Shri Rajneesh Kumar, Director, Pristine Group; Shri Chandan Kumar, MD, Setner; and Shri Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, MD & CEO, Auro Sundaram, were present.