Jamshedpur/Ranchi: Chief minister Raghubar Das, who led a state-level delegation to the Czech Republic and Japan between October 8 and 14, has said their visit was successful and that several companies from the two countries had expressed their willingness to come to Jharkhand and do business.

"It was a very successful visit and we are confident investors from both the countries would come to the state to invest and help the government usher in prosperity and development among the poorest of the poor," Das told the media during a brief interaction in Jamshedpur on Wednesday.

Sources in the chief minister's office said a Czech company, Home Credit, inked an MoU of Rs 750 crore with the state government, the deal likely to generate employment for more than 1,500 people.

Industry secretary Sunl Kumar Barnwal, who was among the senior officials who accompanied Das along with chief secretary Rajbala Verma, said they held road shows in Tokyo and Osaka in Japan and invited business houses to invest in projects like smart city and metro rail.

On the Home Credit MoU, Barnwal said the company was engaged in financing people with little or no credit history and that several other Czech companies like ZADAS and a few more, were very keen about working in association with the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC).

"Several Czech companies have expressed their willingness to jump into the manufacturing sector in collaboration with HEC that has been in Jharkhand for several decades. HEC is already manufacturing equipment for railways and the defence sector," Barnwal said on Friday.

He said several Japanese companies were also keen to explore business opportunities in food processing, information technology and textiles. "The Japanese never like to go anywhere alone. They try to migrate with their clan so that they do not feel like aliens in a foreign land. They also believe in spreading their culture and traditions. As Hitachi and Nikon are already present in Jamshedpur, several Japanese companies are now keen on exploring new avenues in Jharkhand," Barnwal said.

Singhbhum plea

Jamshedpur:The Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appealed to chief minister Raghubar Das for diverting some of the steel, automobile and mining sector investments that are expected to flow in following his recent visit to Japan and Czech Republic to the Kolhan region. SCCI president Ashok Bhalotia said investments in these sectors would help development of the Kolhan region and generate employment opportunities.

The industry secretary said investors across the world were now showing interest in Jharkhand. Sustained campaigns by the government had managed to generate interest in the state among investors.

"Now we need to pursue the investment proposals we have already received. Problems of every investor need to be addressed promptly. And, if need be, rules and regulations should be simplified further," he added.