Telangana government wants slice of summit pie

Hyderabad: The Telangana state government wants a special session for itself during the ensuing Global Entrepreneurship Summit to showcase investment opportunities in the state. 

The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 26, and US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka will lead the US delegation.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao wants to make a Power Point presentation at the summit that will be attended by 1,500 delegates from over 160 countries.

The government has sent a request to Centre in this regard through NITI Aayog, which is organising the summit.

The government wants the Centre to give the host state a special opportunity to address the delegates and brief them about the investment potential, especially in defence, pharma, IT, power and manufacturing sectors.

“The main event will have wider reach than other meetings held on the sidelines of the summit. As the host state, it would be appropriate to give us a chance to showcase the youngest state, the rapid strides it has made in various sectors in the last three years and the investment potential it offers," said a CMO official.

The government is also planning other meetings on the sidelines of summit with global and local investors, seeking investments for the state.

“A committee comprising senior IAS officials has been constituted to identify the invitees for these meetings. It will come out with a list by October 20 and formal invitations will be sent to them. Invitations will be sent to Indian corporate bigwigs and global giants,” the official added.

Telangana state is yet to hold its first global investors meet after the formation of the state. The last such meet was held in 2012 in Hyderabad. The government wants to utilise GES to attract foreign and local investments.