Bihar is best state in IBLA

More and more investors are looking at the India story on a state-wise basis. Picking the right state to invest in, is an integral part of any India investment strategy. That's why this year the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) introduced a brand new category - the state of the year award.

When they are not judging the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leadership Awards, this premier group of businessmen is busy taking critical decisions on where to set up the next plant launch a new product or expand their business reach. And so when it came to picking the winner of the state of the year award -the decision was based as much on personal experience as on exhaustive data.
An intensive SWOT analysis based on financial, social and business indicators led to a shortlist of 5 states and then came the critical questions. Is Goa too dependent on mining? Can Tamil Nadu ditch the bureaucracy? Has the Gujarat story peaked? Can Uttarakhand overcome the infrastructure deficit? Will Bihar make a turnaround? The last one was met with a resounding yes.
YC Deveshwar, chairman- ITC and jury chairman- IBLA 2012 says "I know how difficult it is to transform a place which has earned a bad reputation.. And, people don't want to take risk. So, getting the law & order, social indicators right also getting the GDP to be the highest GR, and getting a positive revenue surplus, all these are indicators in the right direction."
Raghav Bahl, MD, Network18 and jury member- IBLA 2012 says "This one was really easy, it possibly took five seconds to arrive at it because when we asked around the table every one said Bihar-Bihar-Bihar. Done."
Pratip Chaudhuri, chairman- SBI and jury member- IBLA 2012 says "Bihar is starting from almost zero. So, from there to bring when there is inadequate revenue pays, there is inadequate skill base, when there is inadequate infrastructure, when there is inadequate skill, then there is something truly remarkable."
For Nitish Kumar battling the vagaries of politics will seem a tad easier on 2nd November 2012. Because on that day, at the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards ceremony, India Inc will rise to applaud the effort Bihar is making at a comeback.