The meet was organised jointly by Bihar Times and the New Delhi-based Institute of Human Development with support from the state government.

In his speech at the conclave, Lord Meghnad Desai, member of the House of Lords and noted economist in the London School of Economics, observed that social equality beyond caste and creed was more important for a real turnaround of Bihar.

Ever since Mr Kumar took charge of the state 15 months back, he resolved for the turnaround of the state, hitherto mired in backwardness.

The Chief Minister was optimistic of repositioning the state in the days to come as a favourable investment destination under the roadmap charted out by his government.

"I am committed to developed Bihar by 2015," he remarked.

While Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi has planned to set up an NRI cell to facilitate investments, a group of 10 NRIs has floated "Bihar Parishad" to facilitate socio-economic development in the state.

Besides US, NRIs (mostly Biharis), who attended the conclave, were from the UK, Canada, Doha, Qatar, Singapore, China and few other countries.

However, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad seemed to be less impressed with the efforts to rebrand Bihar through this conclave involving NRIs. "It was more a stunt. I also organised a conclave in 1995. But no investments followed after that," he claimed.