Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday outlined Madhya Pradesh's strategy to broaden its industrial and economic base, highlighting emerging opportunities in religious and medical tourism as well as investments in solar and hydropower energy infrastructure to attract investors. Yadav made the remarks while addressing the launch of the Indore chapter of the Hindu Economic Forum in Indore.

Key Sectors in Focus

The Chief Minister underscored that Madhya Pradesh already possesses foundational industrial advantages, including a surplus electricity supply and an adequate land bank. 'Madhya Pradesh currently leads in sectors most essential for industries. The state has surplus electricity and an adequate land bank, and continuous efforts are being made to provide all necessary facilities to industries,' Yadav said.

Beyond these existing strengths, the state government is reportedly exploring innovative energy generation methods, including solar power generation over water bodies — a technique gaining traction in land-constrained regions — while also reinforcing its hydropower capacity.

Tourism as a Growth Lever

Madhya Pradesh, home to major religious sites including Ujjain, Omkareshwar, and Maheshwar, is positioning religious and medical tourism as distinct economic verticals. Yadav said the government was actively working to create a favourable investment environment with employment generation as a central objective — a signal to entrepreneurs that state policy is being calibrated around job creation, not merely capacity addition.

Per Capita Income Rise Cited

Yadav highlighted a significant rise in the state's per capita income, which reportedly grew from approximately ₹11,000 in 2002-03 to ₹1.40 lakh in 2022 and further to ₹1.67 lakh in 2026. 'Within a period of 10 to 12 years, the wheels of development have accelerated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accelerated the country's economic growth, and Madhya Pradesh is successfully translating MoUs signed for industrial development into ground-level reality,' he said. The claim connects state-level progress to the Centre's broader economic narrative, though independent verification of MoU-to-investment conversion rates was not presented at the event.

National Economic Context

Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran also addressed the forum, noting that India was advancing at a growth rate of 7.8 per cent, with expectations of further acceleration. He added that India's trade with foreign partners was on a steady expansionary trajectory. This comes amid broader national efforts to position India as a preferred destination for both manufacturing and services investment.

World Hindu Congress Update

The event also included a presentation on the World Hindu Congress, which has previously convened in New Delhi (2014), Chicago (2018), and Bangkok (2023). The fourth edition is scheduled to be held in Mumbai from 18 to 20 December 2026. A documentary on the Congress's activities was screened at the Indore forum launch.

With Madhya Pradesh aiming to convert industrial MoUs into operational investments, the coming months will test whether its energy and tourism push translates into measurable job and revenue gains on the ground.