Chhattisgarh is truly a land of opportunities, with abundant reserve of natural resources like forests, minerals and surface water. Its large manpower base at varying skill levels and the availability of variety of agricultural crops are the key to the State's future and prosperity. In addition, its unique culture and ecological identity makes it an attractive tourist destination. All these advantages can be strategically exploited for setting up various industrial units in the State and creating an investor friendly environment. Thus, there exist numerous investment opportunities in several sectors of an economy.
Agriculture
Agriculture and allied activities account for nearly 80 per cent of the work force in the State. Out of the geographical area of 13,789 thousand hectares, gross cropped area is about 35 per cent. Kharif is the main cropping season. The predominant crop of the State is rice and it has one of the biggest collection of rice germoplasm. As a result, the State is known as the 'rice bowl' of Madhya Pradesh. Other important crops grown in the State are paddy, maize, wheat, niger, soyabean, sunflower, groundnut and pulses. Besides, horticulture crops are grown in an area of about 123 thousand hectares.
Mineral Resources
Chhattisgarh is the richest State in terms of mineral wealth. It hosts a wide variety of minerals found in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic terrains. These mineral resources have immense potential for large investment in mining, setting of mineral based industries and generating employment in the State. The large deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone, bauxite, dolomite and tin ore are located in several parts of the State. Chhattisgarh produces around twenty per cent of the country's steel and cement and is the only tin-ore producing State in the country. It is nestling atop the world's largest Kimberlite area. Eight blocks have been demarcated for diamond exploration. For instance, Diamondiferous Kimberlites identified in Raipur district are likely to yield substantial quantity of diamonds. Apart from diamond, four blocks of gold exploration and five blocks for base metal investigation have been demarcated. The State is also encouraging establishment of a Gems and Jewellery Park to attract new investment in the sector.
Information Technology
The State of Chhattisgarh recognizes the importance of Information Technology (IT) as a key enabler in its economic development and improving the quality of life of people. Accordingly, the State has prepared its IT policy with a vision of establishing an information society consisting of informed, active and responsible citizens. It seeks to provide all citizens widespread and easy access to Government services, in the local language effectively addressing the existing digital divide and promoting entrepreneurs. Also, the Chhattisgarh infotech and biotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) has been set up to give impetus to IT growth in the State and implement initiatives for overall socio-economic development. CHiPS ensures top-of-the-board institutionalised coordination and implementation of State’s plans for enabling benefits of IT to every one.
Tourism
The State is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country, endowed with rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. It is full of ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. For instance, the important tourists places of interest are:- Bastar; Chitrakote falls; Tirathgarh falls; Keshkal valley; Kangerghat National Park; Kailash caves; Kutumbsar caves; Mahamaya temple at Ratanpur; Bambleshwari Devi temple at Dongargarh; Danteshwari Devi temple at Dantewada; Dindneswari Devi temple of Mallahar; Khutaghat waterfall; Achanakmar sanctuary, Udanti sanctuary near Raipur; Pali and Kendai waterfall of Korba district; Sabari temple of Kharod Janjgir Champa; Nar Narayan temple of Sivarinarayan; Vishnu temple of Janjgir, etc. All such places offer a unique and alternate experience to the tourists the world over, thus making the State an attractive tourist hotspot. Accordingly, the State Government has formulated the tourism policy, with the aim of harnessing the true potential of tourism in the State and positioning it as a preferred destination for both domestic as well as foreign tourists. For this, it also seeks to undertake large-scale development and improvement of infrastructure as well as encourage private sector participation.
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