The two day high profile global investors summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday who laid out a red carpet welcome to investors to invest in Madhya Pradesh, referred as “Dil” of India.
Addressing the gathering of domestic and foreign delegate s, he highlighted the state’s remarkable infrastructure growth, industrial expansion, and policy-driven reforms aimed at attracting large-scale investments.
His speech, which lasted almost 30 minutes, was accompanied by a major announcement from Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, who committed to investing Rs 1,10,000 crore across various sectors, including pumped storage, cement, mining, smart meters, and thermal energy, promising the creation of over 1,20,000 jobs by 2030.
Adani also revealed that discussions were underway for an additional Rs 1,00,000 crore investment in a greenfield smart city, a major airport, and a coal gasification project.
The PM, while beginning his speech, apologized for arriving late, explaining that he didn’t want to cause traffic delays for students heading to their exams. His arrival from Raj Bhawan to the summit venue would have halted traffic due to security measures, and he chose to wait until the students had reached their examination centers before proceeding.
PM Modi lauded the state’s progress under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s leadership and unveiled 18 new policies of the Madhya Pradesh government aimed at making the state one of India’s top investment destinations. He stressed that these policies would provide a conducive environment for investors, unlocking the vast potential of sectors like renewable energy, manufacturing, logistics, and agri-business.
With these reforms, he asserted, MP was well on its way to becoming a top-five state in India’s GDP rankings. The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, citing international confidence in the country’s potential. He pointed to the World Bank’s and OECD’s optimistic projections and underscored the significant progress made in infrastructure, energy, and supply chain resilience.
Madhya Pradesh’s rapid transformation over the past two decades was a central theme in Modi’s speech. He noted that the state, once plagued by power shortages, poor infrastructure, and security concerns, had emerged as a model for industrial development. The expansion of highways, airports, and rail networks has made it a key logistics hub. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, a crucial corridor for trade and connectivity, runs through the state, enhancing its attractiveness for industries. He also cited the electrification of MP’s rail network and the modernization of 80 railway stations as major milestones in the state’s development.
The Prime Minister underscored the state’s achievements in the energy sector, particularly its shift toward clean energy. He noted that MP is now power surplus, with 31,000 MW of generation capacity, 30 percent of which comes from renewable sources. He highlighted projects like the Rewa Solar Park and the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Plant as examples of India’s commitment to sustainable energy. Additionally, he mentioned the Rs 50,000 crore investment in the Bina Refinery petrochemical complex, which aims to make MP a hub for the sector.
Modi’s speech also touched upon the government’s efforts to boost investment by streamlining regulations. He emphasized the importance of the newly formed State De-Regulation Commission, which will identify and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles that deter businesses. In line with the government’s push for MSMEs, he announced new credit-linked incentives and supply chain development initiatives to strengthen local industries. The government’s focus on ease of doing business, he noted, had already led to over 40,000 compliances being reduced nationwide, with similar efforts underway at the state level.
The Prime Minister identified textiles, tourism, and technology as three high-potential sectors poised to generate significant employment and economic growth. He praised MP’s strong position in organic cotton production, which accounts for 25 percent of India’s supply, and its leadership in silk production. With the state housing one of India’s seven textile parks under the PM MITRA scheme, he urged investors to leverage the incentives offered. On tourism, he pointed to the rapid expansion of MP’s hospitality and wellness sectors, citing the success of the Mahakal Mahalok project in Ujjain as a testament to the state’s potential in attracting domestic and international visitors. “Madhya Pradesh has the potential to become a global tourism hub,” Modi stated. “We are committed to making India the number one destination for investors and tourists alike.”
Speaking at the summit, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that Madhya Pradesh is committed to doubling the state’s economy in the next five years and becoming one of the top five states in India. He described the event as a milestone in transforming the state’s economy, adding, “Madhya Pradesh has all the necessary resources, from infrastructure to skilled manpower, to emerge as a top industrial destination.” Yadav also emphasized that industrial growth would go hand in hand with preserving the state’s cultural values and ensuring widespread economic benefits. “The objective of this summit is not just industrial development but ensuring that every household benefits from economic progress,” he said.
As the summit unfolded, leading industrialists, including Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Godrej Industries Chairman Nadir Godrej, Bharat Forge MD Baba Kalyani, and Sun Pharmaceuticals Global Head Rahul Awasthi, expressed keen interest in exploring business opportunities in the state. The total value of MoUs signed will be revealed on Tuesday, when the two-day summit concludes.
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian after the PM’s address, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav hailed the summit as a game-changer for Madhya Pradesh’s economy. “This event will bring in an era that will transform the state’s economy, and the Prime Minister was very happy with the event,” he said. With investment commitments pouring in and global confidence in India’s growth story, Madhya Pradesh appears poised for a new phase of industrial and economic expansion.