UAE interested in investing in tourism, green energy sectors in Himachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chairing the meeting
Shimla, March 6:
The UAE Ambassador to India, Dr. Abdulnasir Alshali, held a meeting with the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Shimla to discuss the state’s investment possibilities. The meeting, during which they discussed the future of various industries, including tourism, green energy, and food processing, was an important milestone in paving the way to enhancing bilateral relations and boosting economic growth in Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister also invited the UAE to invest in a range of sectors, including tourism and hospitality, green energy, dairy, food processing and data storage. Himachal Pradesh’s natural beauty from snow-covered mountains to copious water resources offer a unique opportunity for investment, especially in tourism, he said.
To make Himachal Pradesh a prime tourist spot the state is working to boost the tourism infrastructure. Key initiatives include the expansion of Kangra airport, development of new ropeways, the construction of new four-lane roads and establishment of heliports. These advancements aims to bring domestic and international tourists appeal and make travelers more easily towards the region.
Some of it was, the UAE ambassador also showed great interest in the tourism industry, especially in adventure sports and skiing. He said UAE has identified the potential for investing in Himachal Pradesh and the state government suggested new sites and projects.
Investments in Green Energy
Apart from tourism, Dr. Alshali also expressed keen interest in Himachal Pradesh’s growing green energy sector. The Chief Minister went on to add that the state aspires to be a green energy hub by next year. In the past two years, the state has taken bold measures to protect the environment and embrace renewable energy. Some of the major initiatives include the commissioning of new solar power projects, creating six green corridors and a phased repair of all state-owned diesel buses to electric buses.
CM Sukhu pointed out that Himachal Pradesh has the potential to produce 25 per cent of the total hydropower of the country and said there is a huge potential in the solar power and pumped storage projects. The UAE ambassador highlighted that his country had been actively associated with India’s green energy initiatives and they were keen to explore similar projects in Himachal. He said the state should send all the details on individual projects, to enable the two sides start coordinating for smooth implementation.
Investing More in Dairy and Food Processing
The Chief Minister also pointed out Himachal Pradesh’s initiative in leading natural farming and an emerging dairy industry during the discussions. He invited UAE firms to invest in food processing, cold storage facilities and smart city projects in the state. The state is eager to modernize urban infrastructure and to strengthen its dairy industry, which would make good use of new technology and investment.
Both the Chief Minister and the UAE Ambassador agreed to work closely to expedite the development of these sectors. In a bid to fast track the process, both sides also decided to use nodal officers who would handle the projects.
Moving Forward and Future Work
“Also, a technical team from the UAE would soon visit Himachal Pradesh to evaluate the possible projects,” the UAE Ambassador said. Further discussions to determine next steps for implementation will take place after the visit. Officials are to sit together in a joint meeting to formulate an action plan.
The meeting was attended by this Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena along with others senior officials including; Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chouhan, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister for IT and Innovation, Gokul Butail, UAE economic affairs expert, Rashid Amiri, among others senior Government representatives.
On the other hand, this collaboration between Himachal Pradesh and the UAE is an exciting opportunity for both regions, and will lead to growth across sectors that are essential for the economic development of the state.
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