Golden opportunity! India best destination for foreign investment, reap profits - Nitin Gadkari at India Ideas Summit

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari has urged investors including from the US to reap rich dividends by investing in Indian infrastructure sector, MSMEs, banks, NBFCs and other areas. Terming India as the best destination for foreign investment with high returns, the Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Minister said the country was confident of winning the economic war and the government has taken a number of steps to overcome the crisis while referring to COVID-19 pandemic as a temporary phase.

"It is golden opportunity for you to invest in airports, roads, MSME, railways, waterways and other sectors...There is a huge potential for investment. Returns are very good as compared to USA. I feel Indian situation is good," the minister said addressing the 'India Ideas Summit' by US India Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce.

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Addressing India Idea Summit & 45th Annual Meeting organized by U.S.-India Business Council & U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 21, 2020

The minister said that economic consultants have predicted budget deficit of Rs 10 lakh crore and the foreign direct investment is the need of the hour for pumping in liquidity into the market. "It is opportunity for people like you to invest in MSMEs. You wll get very good returns...NHAI is another good opportunity. You can invest in seaplanes as there is much potential in the country," the minister added.

Further, he said a plan was on the anvil for assigning ratings to the MSMEs which will facilitate investment in it and added that MSME accounted for 48 per cent of the exports and has created 11 crore jobs.

Urging players to invest in the highways sector, the minister said that 22 green expressways were on the anvil and work has already started on seven of these. Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai express highway on a new alignment will be completed in three years span, the minister said and added that these projects offered huge investment opportunities.