Yogi government to rollout red carpet for NRIs

Yogi government to rollout red carpet for NRIs

 

Virendra Singh Rawat

Business Writer

 

The Yogi Adityanath government will virtually rollout a red carpet for the Non Resident Indian (NRI) of Uttar Pradesh origin to seek their investment and engage with them for the socioeconomic development of the state.

 

In fact, the Yogi dispensation is mulling to implement ‘Sister Town’ concept to forge stronger ties with the state NRIs. ‘Sister Town’ is legal/social agreement between cities, provinces or countries situated in distinct geographical areas to promote cultural and trade ties.

 

The process has gained speed in wake of the UP Investors’ Summit proposed on February 21-22, 2018, in which the Yogi government is eyeing private investment of over Rs 1,00,000 crore across sectors.

 

The previous Akhilesh Yadav government had also reckoned the imperatives of engaging with the NRI diaspora for branding building and private investment. He had laid the foundation of ‘UP Pravasi Diwas’ modelled on ‘Bharatiya Pravasi Diwas’ and even instituted an NRI department.

 

Recently, UP minister of state for NRI affairs Swati Singh has underlined the state had large untapped investment potential to NRIs. In a review meeting, Ranjana Sarin, who is closely associated with NRI affairs, had asked the state government to adopt ‘Sister Town’ concept to collaborate with its diaspora and take their cooperation. Singh has sought a detailed report in this regard.

 

On January 4, 2016, Akhilesh Yadav had inaugurated the maiden ‘UP Pravasi Diwas’ at Agra to woo industrialists and investors. It was organised in consort with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). About 200 UP origin diaspora had participated in the three-day extravaganza. He had also conferred 16 NRIs with ‘UP Apravasi Bharatiya Ratna Award’.

 

The feted NRIs had included the likes of former Trinidad & Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday, UK Member of the House of Lords and healthcare professional Khalid Hameed, President of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (International) Ashook Ramsaran (USA), entrepreneur, philanthropist and writer Frank F Islam (USA), singer and philanthropist Alka Bhatnagar (USA), entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi (USA), emergency medicine specialist Krishan Kumar (USA), venture capitalist & healthcare professional Nandini Tandon (USA), material scientist Shri Nath Singh (USA) and  venture capitalist, research scientist and philanthropist Talat F Hasan (USA).