The Punjab Investment Promotion Advisory Council today proposed establishment of ten industrial clusters at various places in the State where land banks are already available to quick start investment in specific industries.The Advisory Council meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also agreed to a proposal by the Deputy CM to take over development of roads and parks in Ludhiana as part of a Green Ludhiana initiative which will be completely managed by the industry.Advisory Council member SK Munjal while presenting a report commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group by the Council said Punjab should focus on inviting interest in specific industries for which clusters could be established wherever land banks are available. The report highlighted that land banks are available are Batala, Pathankot, Amritsar, Mattewara (Ludhiana), Sirhind and Mohali.Mr Munjal stressed that besides identifying industries and clusters, the State must develop the eco system at all these places which the Deputy CM assured was already being done. Mr Sukhbir Badal informed the Council that the State government was keen to establish clusters for the IT industry, agro processing industry, textiles, hand tools, healthcare and education. The Advisory Council also agreed to a proposal by the Deputy CM to take over development of all major roads and parks in Ludhiana. Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal said Council member and Punjab Industrial Adviser Kamal Oswal would be the Convener on behalf of the Council for this initiative. The Deputy CM requested the Council to form a committee for this purpose and come out with a mandate for greening Ludhiana by December 1.
Meanwhile while speaking about the new industry policy of the Punjab government as well as steps being taken by it to simplify investment, Mr Munjal remarked that the Punjab government industrial policy was the most expansive industrial policy initiated by any State in the country. He lauded the government’s decision to appoint a CEO for the Bureau of Investment Promotion who would be empowered to take all decisions on mandatory clearances on behalf of various departments.Among other suggestions which came up in the Advisory Council meeting which was attended by members Omkar Singh Kanwar of Apollo Tyres, Mohit Gujral (representing DLF), Atul Punj (punj Llyod) and Rajinder Gupta (Trident Group) besides others, was the need to take perishable food items out of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act (APMC). Mr Rakesh Mittal said this was essential to encourage investment of the private sector in retailing of fruits and vegetables. There was also a suggestion to initiate vocational training in all government schools in the State from class eight. Mr Sukhbir Badal assured the Advisory Council that both issues would be looked into and implemented.Others present on the occasion included Industries minister Madan Mohan Mittal, chief secretary Rakesh Singh and Secretary Industries Karan Avtar Singh and Investment Promotion Secretary Kalpana Mittal Baruah. EOM