PATNA: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on his maiden visit to Bihar on Friday said his company favoured a long-term engagement with the state to help in its development, which he described as critical to the nation's progress.
"We (Reliance) are for a long-term engagement in Bihar for at least 5-10 years. Bihar's development is critical to and intertwined with the progress of India," Ambani, the richest Indian, told reporters after a luncheon meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
"In the coming years, you will see Reliance in Bihar," Ambani, standing beside the Chief Minister on the lawns of the latter's sprawling 1, Anne Marg bungalow, said.
The purpose of the nearly five-hour visit, he noted, was to acquire a first-hand acquaintance of the challenges and opportunities in redressing Bihar's endemic development problems.
While Reliance developed its medium-term strategy, there are great prospects in harnessing Bihar's rich agricultural potential, its demographic dividend of a young population, investment in human development skill formation, improve farm incomes and productivity, non-conventional energy, particularly solar power, in evolving a business model which can be a win-win situation for all stakeholders, Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board N K Singh said of Ambani's visit.
This was the beginning of a longer and mutually beneficial engagement for the betterment of the state's economy as well as the RIL's business opportunities.
Ambani said he had requested the state government to identify areas where the expertise of RIL could come in handy to give a fresh boost to Bihar's economy.
"I think huge opportunities exist for RIL's engagement in rural development, farming and energy sectors," he said.
Asked which sector his group of companies would be making investment in the near future, he said, "Since it is my first visit (to Bihar), it is more for familiarising myself with the state."
"I am sure India will rebuild itself over the next 10-15 years and Bihar will rebuild itself, too. I want the Reliance Industries to join in that endeavour with the aid of the energetic youth population of the state," he said.
The RIL boss refused to take any more questions and left for tea at the residence of State Planning Board Deputy Chairman N K Singh.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, too, did not not oblige the media and returned to his residential quarters.
Earlier in the day, Ambani interacted with top Bihar officials, including Singh, Chief Secretary A K Chaudhary and Principal Secretaries of Industries, Road Construction and Energy Departments S Vijayraghavan, R K Singh and Rajesh Gupta respectively, among others where the officers who made presentations on the positive changes in the business climate.
Ambani's visit is a part of several such visits organised by the State Planning Board to present Bihar as an investment-friendly destination.
Several corporate honchos, including Tata Sons boss Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra of Mahindra and Mahindra, Sunil Bharti Mittal and Analjit Singh of Max hospitals Group have had similar meetings with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the past one year to explore investment opportunities.
Bihar is virtually rendered without any major history after its bifurcation and creation of Jharkhand in 2000.
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