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Coimbatore, June 30 Once seen as a member of the economically ill-developed BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) region, Rajasthan today is a fast developing State which has set its economic growth rate at a healthy 8 per cent.

Several multinational companies and Indian corporate majors have established their operations in the State which has encouraged private-public partnership in health, education and tourism in a big way, according to Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma, Chairman of the Rajasthan Investment and Development Advisory Board.

Dr Sharma, in his interaction with non-resident Rajasthanis in the Coimbatore region at a meeting organised under the banner of the Coimbatore chapter of the Rajasthan Foundation, briefed them on various initiatives undertaken by the Rajasthan to promote investment in that State, especially in social sectors such as healthcare and education. These efforts are backed by policy framework from the Government to attract greater participation by non-resident Rajasthanis.

To accord priority to industrial development, private special economic zones are being developed. Mahindra’s multiproduct SEZ has been set up in Jaipur where major IT/ITeS firms are to put up their projects.

Rajasthan, endowed with skilled manpower and enjoying the advantages of having a strong heritage and social infrastructure, can be made an international hub of the small scale industry, according to Mr Sharma.

Later talking to this correspondent, Mr Sharma said the advisory board has initiated study on the working of the investment and development policies with a view to revising policy initiatives. The feedback received from entrepreneurs, NGOs, industries would help the study, he said.

Mr Sharma and other officials of the board are planning to have similar meetings with members of the Rajasthani community in Chennai and Madurai.

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