OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL

Besides carving out international identity of local machinery products, threeday Engineering and Auto Expo at the state capital also proved to be a source of bringing industrial investments to Madhya Pradesh.

Five companies from outside the state not only showed their willingness to make investment in industries in Madhya Pradesh, but also signed MoUs worth 715 crore giving a concrete shape to their intentions.

These MoUs were signed between the companies and the State Governments nodal agency TRIFAC. Concluding the three- day Expo, Industries Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya made important announcements about continuity of the event. He said that now Expos focusing on engineering and auto industries will be alternately held at Indore and Bhopal every year. Not only this, but presence of famous companies like Mahindra, Kirloskar and Honda will also be ensured in these events.

Vijayvargiya gave a green signal to TRIFAC and Industries Department to start preparations for the next expo right now.

The biggest MoU signed on the concluding day of the expo was worth Rs. 400 crore. It was inked by Eco Cements Limited for setting up a cement plant in Panna.

Bipin Agrawal signed the MoU on behalf of the company headquartered at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Similarly, PL Sharma of Indofarm Equipment Limited of Himachal Pradesh signed a MoU worth Rs. 200 crore for automobiles and engineering production units in Indore and Bhopal.

Besides, Greeshma Rajiv Pateel of Ameya Mines and Minerals Limited, Thane ( Maharashtra) inked a MoU worth Rs. 54. 66 crore for setting up an iron ore plant in Jabalpur. A Rs.

33.20 crore MoU was singed by Nikhil Agrawal of G- 4 Fertilisers, New Delhi for setting up rock phosphate plant in Sagar.

Manisha Deshmukh of Archana Hi- tech Automation Systems Limited, Hyderabad, inked a MoU worth Rs. 28 crore setting up iron ore and pelettisation plan in Jabalpur. TRIFAC Managing Director Pramod Das signed all the MoUs on behalf of Madhya Pradesh Government.

Vijayvargiya says it will be made an annual affair