Madhya Pradesh seeks global research, tourism, and investment partnerships in Spain

Asserting that Madhya Pradesh is rapidly progressing toward becoming a world-class hub for research and innovation, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Friday proposed academic and research collaborations between premier institutions of Madhya Pradesh such as IIT Indore and IISER Bhopal and universities in Barcelona.

The Chief Minister made this statement on the third day of his ongoing visit to Spain, during a meeting with Jaume Duch Guillot, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Catalonia, in Barcelona.

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During the meeting, an agreement was finalised to launch joint tourism campaigns in Europe to promote Madhya Pradesh’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Sanchi, Khajuraho, and Bhimbetka. Dr Yadav also proposed strengthening cultural exchanges through performing arts, cinema, literature, and museums.

Chief Minister Yadav discussed potential partnerships with organisations such as the FC Barcelona Foundation for programmes focused on sports, leadership, and life skills.

He invited Catalonia’s leading companies in the fields of food processing, textiles, and renewable energy to invest in Madhya Pradesh and explore avenues for technological collaboration.

Highlighting the state’s new industrial policy, robust logistics network, and dynamic youth workforce, he emphasised that this is the ideal time for European companies to consider Madhya Pradesh as a promising investment destination.

Dr Yadav also proposed technical collaboration in areas such as smart cities, green buildings, and urban transport, drawing upon Catalonia’s expertise. He suggested forming a joint working group between the two governments to identify and implement key collaborative projects.

Jaume Duch Guillot emphasised the need for strong and strategic cooperation between India and the European Union. He stated that the world must be re-established on the foundation of international rules.

Guillot noted that in this context, the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) should remain as significant in the future as it has been in the past.

Describing India and the European Union as two regional powers, he underscored the importance of taking concrete steps toward closer cooperation on multilateral issues.