Investment Possibilities in Bihar and Role of NRIs
(This article was translated into Hindi by Prabhat Khabar and published on July 11-07)
Bihar is on the path of progress. The new regime in Bihar is taking serious effort in this direction and progresses have been in almost sectors like Infrastructures (Roads, Electricity), Primary & Higher education and more than that progress have been made of even modus- vivendi of common man. In my recent India visit during April-May, 2007, I found that in buses, trains, pan shops, tea shops, hotels and restaurants, people has started about talking about development in Bihar and new perspectives in the changed environment. Even law & order of the state has improved; now you can roam in Patna till late night and other parts of Bihar also that fear has gone. Local businessman community and educated community are now doing have been activated to do some things for the state.
In the changed environment, Now international business community and NRIs have golden opportunity to invest in Bihar ; Educated class of Bihar have now better chance to look back to their motherland and start helping people of Bihar in their own way; start giving support to local entrepreneurs and can work for entrepreneurship development among youths.
This article is aimed to explore those areas where NRIs /NRBs can pay their attention. Let’s call spade and spade and differentiate between working NRIs (NRIs who are employee of any company, organization, R&D institute or University) and NRIs who are an employer and businessman.
What working NRIs/NRBs/Scientists and Professors can do?
In my view, all erudite of Bihar who are working class living in different parts of Country and abroad can have better chance in following:
1. Financial helps: They can take School and colleges for their infrastructure development as their pilot project, they can help in establishing R&D centers in Bihar to build working environment in the state.
2. Help Talents and Help needy talents: Bihar is well known for genius brains; there is no doubt about it, but what I feel that there are big gap between rich and poor. Rich people can send their children outside or even give beter education in Bihar but poor after certain extent doesn’t have capability to continue their education. We all need to help all those students. For that either they can explore individual way or can go for society for giving their plan.
BiharBrains www.biharbrains.org has started BiharBrains Talents search scheme where any NRIs can give their plan to help needy talents and BB will be only the agent to executing it .
Recently some schemes have been started by BiharBrains. To name a few, Sri (Late) Anil kumar singh yojna for needy children (for the dist of Gaya), Janipur school yojna has already been started by the society. This is to be noted here that this society is a platform of NRIs/NRBs and has chapters in 18 places in India and abroad.
3. Providing consultancy for enormous opportunities in Abroad: I do feel that the students of Bihar have less acquaintance about opportunities in abroad. They can be very helpful in building their career and providing guidance in abroad.
BiharBrains is the best platform for doing this activity. Here everybody can take free online membership and help, guide those students.
What Business community/NRIs Business man can do?
Post global meet has played significant role in making new business environment in the state. Here are the following regionwise sectors where business community of India, particularly from Bihar who are living in India and abroad can start their business or help others to invest in the state.
A. Patna Region: Patna has great potential in Finance, Trade & Commerce, Entertainment & Media, Tourism, Dairy Technology, IT and R&D Companies where
Patna can be the best choice of investors.Patna can be the city of education and higher learning along with center for R&D.
NRIs and business community may think about establishing R&D centers in the field of embedded technology, nanotechnology, Bio technology and physical sciences where Bihar has great achievers.
Recently Dept of Science & Technology has revived its Technical education policy and made rule for private partnership program (PPP) under which govt can give full support to any who wants to invest in Bihar in terms of space, Bank loans and mutual partnership with govt. This is the best time to grab this opportunity.
In Dairy Technology, Patna and Muzaffarpur have shown its potential and this is the only industries in Bihar which has excellent track record in terms of profits. NRIs can invest in diaries industries in Bihar.
B. Vaishali & Muzaffarpur bound areas: Hajipur can be the good place for Tourism (Vaishali), Manufacturing Industries, and food processing industries because of nearness from the state capital and open space for the big industries.
In fruits exports (Litchi, Mango and Banana), both city can be developed as center and there are large possibility of opening export –import company in this area where investment from private sector is required.
NRIs and Business man can try for the possibility of these industries in this region of Bihar
C. Sitamarhi & Raxaul: Sitamarhi can be the best destination for tourism and can attract Hindu religious people as it is the birth place of Hindu Goddess Sita. The govt and private agencies should come forward to develop this city and bound areas. This district is also good in Sugar Industry. Riga Sugar Factory, near Sitamarhi is well known which should be given more importance and revived by govt. Other non govt agencies should come for the investment in sugar industries in this district.
In Litchi production, Sitamarhi is second best after Muzaffarpur. Raxaul can be developed for the international trade with India and Nepal.
D. Darbhanga: This region can be developed as good place for floriculture and horticulture. Pan, Makhan and Machhali (fish) are three important things for the people in Mithila region. People of whole Mithila are known for their brilliancies since ancient times.
As whole Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsha and Supaul has large no of ponds, fishery industries can be developed. There is immediate need of Establishment of Fishery Research Institute at Darbhanga.
F. Samastipur: This dist is famous for Famous for Khaini (Tambaku) production and Wheat. This needs to be more advertised as it is cash crops. The establishment of sugar industry in this dist will be good option for the investors.
G. Bhagalpur Region: Bhagalpur has great potential in Silk Industry, Textile, Handloom & Handicraft, Gems & Jewelry, and Furniture & Artifacts etc. This city should be popularized and advertised as “Silk city of India” .This region is also be developed for tourism as same as Nalanda. Vikramshila can be the good spot for the tourist.
H. Begusarai: Begusarai district in known for the industries in the field of petroleum, chemical, petrochemical integrate complex including upstream & downstream industry. Presently only govt has its own industry in this field but this dist needs more investment by private sector.
I. Purnia and Katihar Region: This dist is good in agro based industry like Jute, Leather and allied products, animal products, fisheries, poultry. The entrepreneurship can be developed in the youths of this district so 38 as they can earn huge amount of Money from this sector.
J. Munger Region: can be developed Electrical & Mechanical Hardware Industry,and Heavy Industry etc.And also can be in Education sector.
K. Gaya, Nalanda & all Budhist Cicuit Regions: No need to say much about this Buddhist circuit. Because of internal terrorism this dist has got bad name. Because of tourist attraction, there are plenty of opportunities in hotel industry in Gaya, Rajgir, Pawauri, Nalanda, Patna, Fatuha where much money can be earned from the foreigners. Nalanda will be center for world tourism particularly after revival of Nalanda University which is on full swing.
Here business opporunties are enormous where NRIs can invest and start development process in the state.
L. Bhojpur Region: Bhojpur Region of Bihar can be developed as the center agriculture .ifgovt pays attention; this has potential to produce wheat and paddy as Punjab and Haryana produces.
In the above mentioned district wise investment opportunities is based on my personal experience and after talking to many business and educated communities of Bihar.
In a nutshell, we can say that Bihar has enormous opportunities in Higher education & Research, Tourism and hotel industry at Tourist spots, Agro-based industries and their export-import units, Food processing units’ etc where Bihar can give model to the nation in building strong India and developed nation by 2020.
All NRIs /NRBs/Business Communities can give a thought for these sectors for investments in Bihar in a changed environment.
