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GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 7
Pakistan had regularly participated in the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) from 2005 to 2015. For the past three years, including 2018, it could not attend the fair apparently due to tension on the border.
However, RS Sachdeva, chairman of the state chapter, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), is of the view the Kartarpur corridor would be a foundation to revive the bilateral trade ties between two nations. He said it would also help eradicate the mistrust between India and Pakistan.
“We will write to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asking it to be liberal in its approach as our demand is to recognise and allow time-bound visa for traders only through their respective business chambers. We have mooted a proposal to set up a common business park at the Attari border where traders of both sides can assemble and execute business deals. We have already taken the Pakistani business chambers into confidence. They are keen to get it practically if the governments of both sides are agreed to it. It will help both nations. The goods that reach Pakistan in 40 days can be made available by us in just 24 hours if the trade barriers are lifted,” he said.
Industrialists in border areas of Punjab are being encouraged with special incentives of establishing factories in the extreme border zone located within 30 km from the international border with Pakistan.
Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Sodhi said a regional office of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) would be opened shortly in the border belt of Amritsar to encourage the small scale industry and make it capable of competing with the global market.
“The location has been allocated. The government has already planned it under the Border Area Development scheme,” he added.
Major Singh, director, MSME, talked about the schemes being run by the department in various sectors. He said work for establishing a regional office in Amritsar had started. “With the establishment of an office here, industrialists will not need not to approach Ludhiana or other cities to get their problems solved,” he said.
Rajat Agarwal, Managing Director, Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation and CEO of Punjab Invest, called upon industrialists for capital investment in the state.
The industrial policy has been formed keeping in mind the demand of hosiery, auto parts and agricultural equipment manufacturers.
Aggarwal said it was for the first time that the industrial policy was made with the consent of industrialists.
“The government is still ready to introduce an amendment if some concrete and fruitful suggestions cropped up from industrialists,” he added.
Prasoon Mukherjee, vice-chairman, Singapore-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussed the possibilities of industrial investment and expansion in Punjab in his presentation.
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