Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Delegates from India and abroad attending the Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025 that began in the city on Monday said that Madhya Pradesh has immense potential in the mining, green and renewable energy, tourism and handicrafts and handloom sectors.  On the sidelines of the Summit, Free Press talked with some of them to know about their impressions of the state, its policies and its investor-friendliness. 

Excerpts: 

Encouraging policies

Madhya Pradesh has encouraging policies that would help attract investments. We already have an FMCG factory at Malanpur near Gwalior. At the last GIS, we had announced the expansion of the factory. It is underway and will be over in the next one year. I would like the chief minister to inaugurate it. 

~Nadir Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej Industries 

Ideal green energy hub

I am very happy to be here in Bhopal. Events like this (GIS) are useful in the sense that they bring everyone to a common table. Sun shines almost every day in Madhya Pradesh. So, this is an ideal place for generating clean energy. It has immense potential as far as tourism goes. It can also become an Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub.  

~Erik Solheim, Former Minister of Climate and the Environment, Norway

Govt is open

The day before, I was in Kerala to attend the Invest Kerala Global Summit in Kochi. I find this one more exciting. The government here has listed very openly what they have and what they are willing to offer to the investors. Our country has huge deposits of many minerals and we are exploring opportunities in the mining sector. The summit has just begun. We will find out how MP compares with other states as the day progresses. 

~Raj Modi, Dy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Govt of Zimbabwe 

Amazing handicrafts

The textiles and handicrafts of Madhya Pradesh are amazing. There is a lot of scope for investment in these sectors. As for whether French companies will invest here or not, it is too early to say. I am seeing and understanding things. Then we will have consultations. 

~Veronique Poles, Founder Consulting, Poles Luxe, France

Want to expand our presence

We already have huge investments in Madhya Pradesh. We are giving direct employment to about 1,000 persons in the state and we are working with about 1,000 farmers from whom we buy ingredients for our products like Chavanprash, Lal Dant Manjan, Hajmola and others. We also have a huge nursery in the state. Yes, we are looking forward to expanding our presence here.  

~Mohit Malhotra, CEO Dabur India Limited

Professional arrangements

This is my first visit to Bhopal. I am learning a lot. I am sure there are opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, especially in the tourism sector. The arrangements here are quite professional. Let’s see what can be done. 

~JJ Singh, President, Indo-Polish Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Poland

GISs are getting bigger

I was born and brought up in Indore. Now, I live in Dubai. We want to expand our team in Madhya Pradesh. And that is why I am here. The startup policy of the state government is quite positive and encouraging. I can see many opportunities here. I have attended the earlier Global Investors Summits in the state. With each passing year, the scale of the event is getting bigger and bigger. 

~Purvi Munot, Founder, Sav fintech, Dubai