Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Expo organised by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) at BTI Ground, the Chief Minister called upon traders and industrialists to partner in the state’s next phase of expansion.
Photo: SNS
Chhattisgarh is moving with determination towards a developed future, aligned closely with the national mission of Viksit Bharat 2047, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Wednesday. Addressing the National Trade Expo 2026 in Raipur, the CM asserted that the state has built a stable and investment-friendly ecosystem where agriculture, industry and commerce can grow together.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Expo organised by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) at BTI Ground, the Chief Minister called upon traders and industrialists to partner in the state’s next phase of expansion. He emphasised that Chhattisgarh is prepared to welcome fresh investment proposals backed by policy support and infrastructure readiness.
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Referring to the ₹1.72 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27 presented by Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, Sai said the government has entered its third year with a clear developmental trajectory. The first year’s Budget revolved around “GYAN”, prioritising the poor, youth, farmers and women. The second year carried forward the momentum under the theme “GATI”. This year’s “SANKALP” Budget, he said, reflects resolve and long-term commitment to inclusive growth.
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The Chief Minister stated that the Budget has been framed in the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principle of collective development and shared responsibility. Special focus, he added, has been placed on the Bastar and Surguja regions.
Describing Bastar as geographically larger than Kerala and endowed with extraordinary natural beauty, Sai said the region had suffered decades of disruption due to Naxalism. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and supported by sustained security efforts, extremism is nearing its end, he added.
He reiterated the state’s resolve to eliminate Naxalism from Chhattisgarh and the country by March 31, 2026. Over the past two years, several senior Maoist leaders have been neutralised, and many cadres have surrendered, creating conditions for accelerated development in previously affected areas.
The government has made Budgetary provisions for Education Cities in remote areas such as Abujhmad and Jagargunda. Efforts are also underway to promote agriculture, forest produce value addition and allied economic activities across Bastar and Surguja.
Highlighting the state’s ecological wealth, Sai said nearly 44 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s geographical area is under forest cover. Under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, seven crore saplings have been planted. Compensatory afforestation is also being carried out on a large scale alongside industrial expansion.
The Chief Minister said the state has prepared a comprehensive Vision Document to move in step with the national target of a developed India by 2047. The roadmap aims to double the current GSDP growth rate within five years and raise the state’s GSDP to ₹75 lakh crore by 2047.
He noted that the new Industrial Policy is yielding encouraging results. Investment outreach initiatives in major cities have drawn proposals worth approximately ₹8 lakh crore, with projects in sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence already underway.
CM Sai underlined that the trading community would play a decisive role in shaping a developed Chhattisgarh. Commerce and entrepreneurship, he said, are vital engines of economic transformation. On the occasion, he visited exhibition stalls, interacted with participants and released a Swadeshi poster published by CAIT.
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