Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented the state’s changing economic profile and investment opportunities at the two-day World Leaders Forum in New Delhi, highlighting a growth strategy focused on AI, startups, innovation, green energy, advanced manufacturing and youth entrepreneurship.
Sai said the aim is not merely to attract investment but to convert it into jobs, businesses, higher incomes and better opportunities for young people.
Economy Reaches ₹6.31 Lakh Crore
Chhattisgarh’s economy has reached around ₹6.31 lakh crore in 2025-26, with an economic growth rate of 11.57 per cent. Per capita income has risen to ₹1,79,244.
The state’s ₹1.72 lakh crore 2026-27 budget focuses on infrastructure, capital expenditure and social welfare. Road, rail, power, digital connectivity and industrial infrastructure are also being expanded.
Under the Industrial Development Policy 2024-30 and One Click Single Window System 2.0, more than 450 procedures have been simplified in two years. The state has received investment proposals worth over ₹8 lakh crore since the new industrial policy began.
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New Sectors Beyond Minerals
While steel, cement and mineral-based industries remain important, Chhattisgarh is opening opportunities in:
- Semiconductors, electronics, AI and data centres
- Pharmaceuticals, textiles, logistics and food processing
- Green energy and advanced manufacturing
5,000 Startups Targeted by 2030
The state aims to develop 5,000 startups by 2030. New entrepreneurs can receive seed funding of up to ₹10 lakh for innovative ideas.
Under the ₹500 crore State AI Mission, the government plans to train six lakh students and 1.5 lakh government employees, develop more than 50 AI-enabled government services, establish 100 AI data labs and five Centres of Excellence, and support over 300 AI startups.
An AI Data Centre Park involving about ₹1,000 crore is being developed in Nava Raipur. The government sees AI as a tool to improve education, prepare youth for future jobs and make public services more efficient.
Bastar Gets Development and Investment Push
Sai highlighted Bastar as key to Chhattisgarh’s development, with a ₹4,824 crore Livelihood Enhancement Plan targeting higher incomes for around one million families.
The region has reopened 421 closed schools and created digital health profiles for over 34 lakh people. The ₹3,513 crore Jagdalpur-Raoghat railway project will boost connectivity and market access.
Tourism at Chitrakote, Tirathgarh, Kanger Valley and Sirpur is being promoted, while tourism status is expected to attract investment and create jobs. The state is also focusing on processing forest produce, medicinal plants, millets and farm products locally.
4,000 MW Solar Capacity Planned
Chhattisgarh plans to add around 4,000 MW of solar capacity in the coming years. More than 90,000 households have already received solar connections, while Bhilai has the state’s first floating solar power plant.
The state is also developing electronics manufacturing facilities in Nava Raipur and Rajnandgaon, along with a proposed space manufacturing cluster, a 142-acre pharmaceutical park and textile and ready-made garment parks.
The discovery of lithium in Korba could further support battery manufacturing, energy storage and new-energy industries.
Faster Clearances for Businesses
The Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026 aims to simplify and speed up industrial approvals. For low-risk industries, applications can receive automatic approval if authorities fail to decide within the prescribed period.
The law covers 43 services across eight departments and is expected to benefit around 15 lakh MSMEs by reducing delays and allowing businesses to focus on expansion and job creation.
Sai presented Chhattisgarh as an economy moving beyond its traditional mineral dependence. The state is seeking to combine its natural resources, young workforce and improving infrastructure with technology, entrepreneurship, tourism and green energy.
The larger objective remains clear: turn investment into employment, new enterprises, higher incomes and better opportunities for people across Chhattisgarh.
