Ranchi, April 22: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, on an official visit to Spain and Sweden, has made a strong push for international investment, declaring that “Jharkhand is ready for business.” His overseas tour marks a strategic effort to attract foreign collaboration across a range of sectors and strengthen Jharkhand’s global economic ties.
In Barcelona, the Chief Minister engaged with Indian-origin entrepreneurs and domain experts from sectors including startup mentorship, clean energy, environmental sustainability, biopharma, sports marketing, MedTech, and legal services. The discussions centered around fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup growth in Jharkhand. Business leaders expressed their interest in supporting the creation of a dynamic startup ecosystem in the state.
A major highlight of the visit was a proposal from Spanish football club RCD Espanyol to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Jharkhand. The proposed partnership would focus on training football coaches from the state, leveraging Barcelona’s advanced sports infrastructure to enhance grassroots football development in Jharkhand.
The business delegation also met with Dusan Lichardus, CEO of Tesla Group AS, who proposed setting up a GIGA Factory in Jharkhand. The proposed facility would focus on assembling commercial and industrial battery storage systems and would be modeled after Tesla’s plant in Braila, Romania. The initiative is aimed at bolstering renewable energy storage capacity and supporting the state’s clean energy ambitions.
Further discussions included proposals to map Jharkhand-based startups and their mentors and to establish connections with global incubators. Delegates also explored investment avenues in value-added food processing, especially involving local produce like jackfruit and tomatoes.
The Chief Minister’s team discussed collaboration opportunities in traditional medicine systems such as Hodopathy, as well as in research and development, innovation licensing, and commercialization in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology sectors.
To improve Jharkhand’s global visibility, participants proposed a long-term promotional campaign focused on investment, tourism, and trade. This would help establish Jharkhand’s brand among Spanish businesses and encourage more companies to explore the state’s economic potential.
Soren assured business leaders that the Government of Jharkhand is committed to maintaining sustained engagement with Spanish companies through regular meetings and follow-ups. He stated that the suggestions received during his visit would be instrumental in refining the state’s policies to facilitate business.
He also emphasized the progress Jharkhand has made in improving its business environment and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to fast-tracked implementation of investment projects. Speaking during the visit, Soren said, “Jharkhand is ready for business,” and added, “The Government of Jharkhand will maintain continuous engagement with Spanish companies through regular meetings and follow-up programs.”
The visit to Spain and Sweden marks an important step in Jharkhand’s efforts to attract foreign investment and promote itself as a competitive and business-friendly destination on the global stage.
