Chief Minister Engages with Indian-Origin Business Leaders and Experts in Barcelona
Barcelona/Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren is on an official visit to Spain and Sweden to attract investment into Jharkhand. As part of this visit, the Government of Jharkhand received a proposal from RCD Espanyol Football Club to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in sports development, specifically for the training of football coaches from Jharkhand. This partnership aims to promote sports—especially football—in the state by leveraging Barcelona’s excellent sports ecosystem.
Simultaneously, a high-level delegation led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister interacted with Indian-origin business leaders and experts in Barcelona across various fields such as Startup Mentorship, Clean Energy, Environmental Sustainability, Supply Chain, Bio-Pharmaceuticals, Sports Marketing, Cricket Franchise Ownership, Deep-Tech B2B Marketing, Legal, Dentistry, and MedTech.
The delegation discussed strategies to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and startup growth in Jharkhand. Participants expressed their interest in supporting the creation of a vibrant startup ecosystem in the state. The Chief Minister extended an invitation to all attendees to visit Jharkhand and explore investment opportunities.
Proposal to Establish a GIGA Factory
The Chief Minister also held a meeting with Mr. Dušan Lichardus, CEO and Co-founder of Tesla Group A.S. (Czechoslovakia). During the meeting, Mr. Lichardus proposed to establish a GIGA Factory in Jharkhand focused on the assembly of commercial and industrial battery storage products. The project would be similar to the company’s recently set-up facility in Brăila, Romania, aimed at enhancing renewable energy storage infrastructure.
Government Presents Key Proposals
The business delegation suggested that the Jharkhand Government should initiate the mapping of startups and their mentors in the state and establish connections with global incubators. Investment opportunities in value-added food processing, especially involving jackfruit and tomatoes, were also discussed.
Further discussions included collaboration in traditional medicine (Hodopathy), Research & Development, and licensing of innovations in sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, MedTech, and Biotech.
The Jharkhand delegation stressed the importance of strengthening the State’s branding among Spanish companies. It was suggested that a sustained promotional campaign focused on Investment, Tourism, and Trade could position India—and Jharkhand in particular—as a key destination for Spanish companies.
Chief Minister's Assurance
The Hon’ble Chief Minister assured the delegation that the Government of Jharkhand will maintain continuous engagement with Spanish companies through regular meetings and follow-up programs to advance collaborations. He affirmed that the valuable suggestions received would be considered while updating and refining state policies.
The Chief Minister also reiterated Jharkhand’s significant progress in Ease of Doing Business and the Government’s commitment to facilitating smooth and fast-tracked investment implementation in the State.
