The government has embarked on a plan to market the Budget for 2003-04 in foreign countries in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The finance ministry and the CII are jointly organising a series of meetings and roadshows outside India for the purpose.

Finance Secretary S Narayan is currently in London to hold a series of meetings with top industrialists to highlight the finer points of the Budget. A similar kind of meeting has been organised in Japan next week. The meetings have been organised by CII.

Meanwhile, Narayan and Omkar Goswami, chief economist, CII, have already held a video-conference with US business community, comprising leading industrialists and chief executive officers to highlight the finer points of the Budget.

The government will also interact with business circles of Thailand and Philippines.

"The finance secretary will attend various such meetings outside India to discuss the nitty gritty of the Budget and to project India as the next investment destination," a finance ministry spokesperson said.

In London, the finance secretary will also hold a meeting with financial institutional investors. The meeting will be chaired by Vikas Nath, global head, emerging markets, HSBC.

"The aim is to target Non-Resident Indians and possible foreign investors. It is important for us to discuss the Budget and highlight the key trade and investment incentives to NRIs as well as the international community," Dilip Chenoy, deputy director-general, CII, said.

It is understood that till now there has been no such concerted effort to hold post-Budget discussions in overseas market.

"However it has become crucial to market the Budget and the business opportunities because India is turning out to be an important market for most investors," Chenoy said.

Last year a post-Budget meeting was held only in the US. "However, the meeting was long after the Budget announcement and therefore had no major significance," Chenoy added.