Chandigarh, July 19 - Haryana today organized ‘The India Korea Golf Meet’ at Gurugram where Trade & economic co-operation was discussed over a Game of Golf. Haryana Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal was the chief guest who assured the Korean investors of all support from the state government.
While addressing the participants of ‘The Meet’ at Gurugram, he said that Haryana is witnessing plethora of expression of investments interests coming from Korean companies, hence it becomes all the more important for Haryana to maintain this healthy relationship. Mr Manohar Lal expressed his gratitude towards Korean investors for reposing their faith in Haryana and sought continued preference and investments from them for the State.
He said that in order to make Haryana land of another industrial revolution, number of reforms have been unleashed. Haryana ranks first in North India and third in the Country in “Ease of Doing Business” in the ranking conducted by World Bank. “Red tapism has been replaced by red carpet and industries are being provided facilitation in all possible way. Haryana’s Single Window System to provide industrial clearances have been recognized as one of the best system in India”, asserted the Chief Minister.
He said that Haryana is bursting with opportunities in sectors such as IT/ITES, Agro and food processing, healthcare and medical education, skill development, electronics hardware manufacturing, textile and apparel, defense and aerospace, mass rapid transport.
He said that Golf is supposed to be a game of precision and same precision is required in making the investment decision, a precise and well balanced decision help firm to grow leap and bounds. He reminded the South Korean investors that both India and South Korea have traditionally been close to each other for centuries. In recent years, India and Republic of Korea have made great strides and has become truly multidimensional, sparred by the significant convergence of interests, mutual goodwill and high level exchanges.
Talking about the present era of trade protectionism, Mr Manohar Lal said, effort by both the countries to take the relation to next level is highly appreciable, the testimony of the fact is that recently launched policy by South Korea government “New Southern Policy” (NSP) attached primacy to strengthening the country’s economic and strategic relations with India. It was for the first time that South Korea has clearly designed a foreign policy initiative for India and officially documented it. He said that Haryana hosts numerous multinational companies of Korea such as Hyndai, Lotte, Doosan Power, Samsung etc and about 3000 Koreans have found here a home away from home. “Korea has played a very significant role in strengthening the industrial eco-system of Haryana and established us as an automobile hub of the country”, said Mr Manohar Lal.
He said that Haryana is a land of opportunities and enterprise. It is counted among the most developed and industrialized states in India and is the leading manufacturer of cranes, excavators, cars, two-wheelers, footwear, scientific instruments etc. Mr Manohar Lal told that Haryana has the highest per capita income amongst the larger States in India and the State GDP (at current price) is growing at the rate of about 12 per cent annually. The manufacturing and services sectors today contribute about 86 per cent to the State economy. Its economic growth rate has been consistently higher than that of the National growth. The Chief Minister also gave prizes to the winners of today’s golf event and mementos to others.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana for Industries and Commerce, Mr Devender Singh welcomed the dignitaries and said that this is first ever event in Haryana to discuss business over game of Golf, the game popular with the Koreans. He hoped that this engagement will go a long way in strengthening the relations between Haryana and Korea.
Mr H C Jeong from Korean International Trade Association (KITA) thanked Haryana for organizing this unique event and said that it is not like usual seminars. He said that India and Korea have bright future. Prime Minister Mr Narender Modi met the Korean President Mr Moon Jae In and both leaders agreed over mutual prosperity and share. They have decided that South Korea would increase its investment in India from present 21.5 US Billion Dollars to 50 US Dollars by 2030. Both leaders agreed to work for removing all barriers in achieving this target. “Presently there are 700 Korean Companies are operating in India and by 2030, India will be home for 2000 Korean Companies. This shows that we love India and expect vice versa”, Mr Jeong added.
Madhu from Invest India also addressed the gathering. Haryana Minister for PWD (B&R) and Forest Rao Narbir Singh, Mayor Madhu Azad, BJP District President Bhupender Chauhan, Consulate Minister from Embassy of South Korea Mr Yoo Cheng ho were also present among other dignitaries.