Ranchi, Sept. 27: US-based mining and technology major Caterpillar has agreed to set up a mining equipment manufacturing unit in Adityapur in Saraikela-Kharsawan district near Jamshedpur, the company's business head Rahul Jain told chief minister Raghubar Das in the US yesterday.

Das, who is leading a team of senior government officials, company representatives and chamber office bearers on a tour of the US to hard-sell Jharkhand as an investment destination, inaugurated the Jharkhand pavilion set up at a mining expo in Las Vegas yesterday. There, he interacted with business leaders, including CEO of GE Mining (Chicago) Scott Phillips, CEO of Hollidaysburg (Pennsylvania) Sean McLanahan and Jain.

Among state officials accompanying Das were chief secretary Rajbala Verma, development commissioner Amit Khare, energy department additional chief secretary R.K. Shrivastava, urban development department principal secretary Arun Kumar Singh, CM's principal secretary Sanjay Kumar, industries and mines secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal, all of whom took part in the interactions.

Das told the business leaders that Jharkhand was ushering in an era of industrial growth and was gearing up to showcase its enormous potential to national and international investment communities. He hoped Jharkhand's participation in the mining expo would help the state cultivate long-term partnerships.

"Jharkhand is one of India's youngest states, which has over 40 per cent of the country's total mineral reserves. Our state accounts for India's 27 per cent coal reserves and 26 per cent iron ore reserves. We also have good stock of several other minor and major minerals," he explained.

Chief secretary Verma spoke of the recent roadshows conducted by the government across India in Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Calcutta and Mumbai.

"During roadshows, the Jharkhand government signed crucial agreements with global giants like CISCO and Oracle to impart skills to youths, while preparing for a technology leveraged future. Two MoUs were also signed with global technology major Hewlett Packard for e-healthcare and tele-education," she said.

Verma added that during the US visit, the state was looking forward to seal collaborations with leading industry organisations and trade outfits, help American firms get to know Jharkhand and facilitate future investments.