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Bollywood aid to woo NRIs

Y. Mallikarjun

Paeans for Mumbai's spirit, praise for State's investor-friendly climate

HYDERABAD: India's most popular symbol, Bollywood, was unleashed at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2006 by Maharashtra to woo investments from overseas Indians.

After a strong sales pitch by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh during an interactive meet with non-resident Indians, well-known filmmaker Subhash Ghai and actor Jackie Shroff spoke at another session devoted to Maharashtra along with that State's Industries Minister Ashok Chavan.

Credit to State Government

Referring to his achievements, Mr. Ghai said he had started business with just Rs.10, 000, which was now worth Rs. 250 crore. This would not have been possible in any other State, he said. The credit went solely to the State Government. Mr. Shroff said Mumbai was the only city in the world which could bounce back within a day after disasters like the serial bomb blasts and the recent floods, thanks to its residents' resilience and enterprising spirit.

"Give something back"

Earlier, Mr. Deshmukh urged overseas Indians to give something back to the country. He said Maharashtra had better fiscal discipline, labour reforms than other States, along with investor-friendly climate, infrastructure and skilled workforce. He called for a national consensus on labour laws and assured that his Government was willing to discuss if the NRIs wanted changes in any particular policy.

Mr. Deshmukh sought investments in power, information technology, biotechnology, horticulture and real estate, among others.

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