Patna, Aug 25 - The Bihar State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) has cleared 190 investment proposals worth Rs.118,000 crore (Rs.1,180 billion/$24 billion) since January 2006, officials said.

The cleared proposals include 26 power plants, 25 sugar mills, 34 food processing units and 18 steel processing and cement manufacturing plants.

Besides, several existing sugar mills are planning major expansion and start producing ethanol, state industry department officials said.

According to them, there is a 'visible change in the economic environment' of the state ever since the Nitish Kumar-led government has been formed in November 2005.

The state government has started pushing major investment projects since January 2006.