Monday, January 15, 2007: The Punjab Government hosted the 4th Pravasi Punjab Divas on 11th January in Chandigarh. NRIs at the meet were ready to make large investments in their native land, but complained that the government’s insipid response was often a deterrent for them.

Informal discussions amongst the delegates at the forum zeroed down to the state and central governments’ unenthusiastic reaction to the NRIs efforts to set up projects in North India.

NRIs like Dr. Pawan Rattan from the US have proposed projects close to their heart, like 300 trauma centres at a cost of Rs.1 crore each for accident hit victims along the national highways in North India, but the response has been lukewarm. The view is shared by others like Bobby Rekhi of Principal Cornerstone Venture Partners, California, Ali Busheri and Jatinder Virk of the US. They agreed that a clear vision for the state by the Chief Minister was necessary to take the state forward, and called for more openness and transparency in the government’s functioning. Changing governments also pose a problem for NRIs, as approved projects by one government get eclipsed when a new government comes in power.

Stability and amendments in investment procedures would go a long way in pushing up investment from NRIs.