Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Chairperson of Bihar Foundation, Samrat Choudhary, announced on June 16 that the state government will invest Rs 29.87 crore over two years to set up integrated Bihar Foundation centres in 10 major Indian cities. These cities include Surat, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, and Guwahati.
In a significant move aimed at strengthening Bihar’s global engagement, a new international chapter of the Bihar Foundation is also being launched in Oman. According to Samrat, this chapter will play a pivotal role in promoting Bihar’s cultural heritage abroad and bolstering the state’s economic, social, and industrial growth.
The integrated centres will serve as information hubs, providing comprehensive details about Bihar’s arts, culture, crafts, textiles, tourism, and industrial opportunities. They are also expected to act as facilitators for international investment by coordinating with Indian trade organisations abroad.
Samrat said that budget allocations for these centres have been approved by the Executive Committee, factoring in minimum staffing and operational needs.
The foundation plans to host virtual dialogue sessions with its 30 active chapters—14 in India and 16 overseas—over three phases. The first phase will include chapters in the USA (ETZ, WTZ, Texas), New Zealand, and Canada. The second will connect with chapters in the UAE, Sydney, Bahrain, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Netherlands. The third phase will involve chapters within India, including those in Chennai, Goa, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Gurugram, Siliguri, Sikkim, and Guwahati.
Samrat emphasised that these dialogues will offer a platform for diaspora members to share experiences and contribute to shaping Bihar’s global identity. The launch of the Oman chapter marks a key milestone in these efforts.
