Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has hailed the decision of the Union Government for restoring Special Package of Incentives for Himachal Pradesh. Chief Minister while thanking the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Vice President AICC Shri Rahul Gandhi and Union Commerce and Industries Minister Shri Anand Sharma for announcing this incentive for the State.While welcoming the decision of the Union Government, Shri Virbhadra Singh said that this would not only give boost to the industrialization in the State but also generate gainful employment especially for the rural youth. He said that the Special Package of Incentives has been extended from 7th January, 2013 to 31st March, 2017. He said that memorandum was also submitted to the President of India requesting him to recommend the case of Himachal Pradesh for extension of this package.
Virbhadra Singh said that all new industrial units and existing units on substantial expansion would be eligible for Central Capital units at the rate of 15 percent of their investment in plant and machinery. He said that subsidy would be available to all new and existing units on substantial expansion located in notified areas as well as to “thrust industries" for units located anywhere in these State. Industries Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri has also welcomed the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for giving its approval for extension of the Special Package of Industrial Incentive for Himachal Pradesh. He said that this has been possible due to the relentless efforts of the Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh, who had taken up the issue regarding industrial package with the Union Government at various levels. Shri Agnihotri said that only recently he had himself called on the Union Commerce and Industries Minister Shri Anand Sharma at New Delhi and urged him to restore the Industrial Package for the State. He said that the Union Minister had assured him that the matter in the respect would be taken up in the next Union Cabinet Meeting itself. He said that the Industrial Package would give a much needed fillip to the pace of Industrialization in the State. Industries Minister said that objective of the scheme was to create an enabling growth and industrialization of Himachal Pradesh and generation of more employment.