State to be industrial hub: Minister

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 5

The state government is committed to providing conducive, transparent and industry-friendly environment to attract investment in crucial sectors such as infrastructure, pharmaceutical, horticulture, agro, food and fruit processing, textiles, tourism, light engineering, cement, hydro-energy.

This was stated by Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri while presiding over the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), HP State Council, yesterday. “It was due to the proactive cooperation of the CII that Investors’ Meet, under the Emerging Himachal Campaign, was organised in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Benguluru which had resulted in attracting investment proposals worth about Rs 2,500 crore for the state,” he remarked.

He said the government was providing several incentives to the entrepreneurs to make Himachal Pradesh an “Industrial Hub”. He said an HP Investment Promotion Cell has been set up to facilitate investment in the state.

The minister said the new-state-of-the-art industrial areas were being developed at Pandoga in Una and Kandrori in Kangra with an investment of Rs. 219 crore. A technology centre was being developed at Baddi with a cost of about Rs 147 crore, he added.

He said in order to facilitate entrepreneurs, approval for the purchase of land for industrial units under Section118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act had being simplified and the floor area ratio for industries had been increased under the Town and Country Planning Act and Rules.

He said Himachal Pradesh had immense potential in tourism. He lamented that Himachal was hoping to get some projects from the Centre in the tourism and horticulture sectors.

Agnihotri said Tahliwal was emerging as the first industrial area in the state having piped gas for industrial use. He said he had constituted an Industry Advisory Council under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister to advise and monitor all aspects of industrial growth.

Acknowledging the role of private players in providing the desired impetus to the economy, Agnihotri urged the CII for its co-operation in augmenting the economy of the state.

Industries Minister released a report on “Attracting Investments in HP”. Chairman, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council Arun Rawat welcomed the Industries Minister and other delegates. He also detailed various activities of the CII.