Will boost Madhya Pradesh finances through investments, and borrow wisely: CM Mohan Yadav

As Madhya Pradesh gears up for the Global Investor Summit in Bhopal on February 24, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav spoke with Kumar Anshuman and Jatin Takkar about investment prospects, fiscal management, and job creation. Excerpts:

Which sectors is MP targeting for new investments?
MP offers vast potential across industries. We are rich in mining, have the largest land bank in India, and are surplus in water and electricity. We are also a top agricultural state, contributing 43% of the country's cotton production and ranking third in milk production.


Tourism, particularly religious tourism, is booming. Ujjain alone received over six crore visitors last year, surpassing Tirupati Balaji. We aim to capitalise on this momentum further.

The state received ₹1.5 lakh crore in investments by early 2023. What do you expect from the upcoming summit?

We have redefined the investor summit model. Instead of a single event, we now host regional industry conclaves throughout the year. We organised seven such events in Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol, Narmadapuram, and Gwalior, securing ₹4 lakh crore in commitments.

How many MoU commitments are materialising into real investments?
We have a structured follow-up system. Every MoU is tracked monthly, and once approvals are cleared, we conduct groundbreaking ceremonies. Past MoUs are also reviewed to ensure progress. We have streamlined the approval process-reducing required clearances from 38 to 10. For major investments, we offer special approvals via the Cabinet Committee for Investment Promotion (CCIP).

Which industries are seeing the highest investment interest?
We are attracting significant investments in power, including thermal, solar, wind, and pump storage. MP's geography makes it ideal for pump storage projects. Tourism, both religious and wildlife, is another area of growth, along with medical tourism. Since I took charge, 12 new medical college proposals have emerged-three are operational, and tenders for three more have been issued.

Any major industrial houses committing large investments?
Top business groups-including Tata, Ambani, Adani, and Welspun-are keen on MP. We are also offering incentives to encourage investment in backward regions.

Why should investors pick MP over other states?
MP offers the best deal-ample power, land, and a central location. These advantages make it a prime investment destination.

MP's debt exceeds ₹4.5 lakh crore. Critics say loans are funding poll promises.

When I took office, the budget was ₹3.25 lakh crore. This year, it has grown to ₹4.12 lakh crore. We have only borrowed ₹35,000 crore within the limits set by the central government. Investments will help us manage finances sustainably.

Will the liquor ban strain the state's revenue?
The ban applies only to 17 religious cities for uniformity. Earlier, liquor was restricted within a 1 km radius of religious sites; now, it's banned across these entire municipal areas. Liquor remains available elsewhere, so the financial impact is minimal.

Despite investment, job creation remains a challenge. How will you address this?
We have created three lakh job opportunities so far. With 1.5 crore youth in the state, our target is to provide opportunities to 70% within five years. Skill development is a priority-we are launching 55 PM Excellence colleges and expanding medical and technical education to build a skilled workforce.