MUMBAI, July 24: Businessmen should consider investing in ``political industry'' also. This appeal was made by Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela who came to the city seeking investments from the business community.``Businessmen who are qualified for making financial decisions of investments in various industries should also consider investing in the political industry if India is to become one of the economic powers in the next century,'' Vagehla told business captains at a meeting organised by the Indian Merchants Chamber here on Thursday.

The Gujarat Chief Minister bemoaned that unlike other professions, most Indian politicians are ``unqualified'' for the position they hold as they do not have any idea of formulation of developmental strategies and political perspectives for the country's future.

Responding to a point made by IMC president Ram Gandhi, Veghela appealed to all businessmen and politicians to work together for ensuring a pride of place for India in the world.

He invited city businessmen to not only set up new units in Gujarat but expand and diversify their existing ones in the State. ``I assure you that my state, though a part of a third world country like India, is in reality at par with the world's most advanced nations like Japan and the US in respect of its policy objectives and achievements in various industry sectors,'' he said.

Vaghela exhorted businessmen to become the partner of people's progress and act as trustees of their neighbourhoods. "We want you to provide simple facilities, as much as possible, to the people around you in the form of roads, mobile dispensaries, drinking water pipeline and educational facilities," he said while addressing a seminar in Mumbai today on `Industrial and infrastructure investment opportunities in Gujarat'.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.