Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday met Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu to seek cooperation in several areas, including Renewable Energy, Solarisation of Agricultural Pumps, setting up of Industrial Parks and Skill Development.Citing the positivity injected in the state’s industrial environment by his government through a series of initiatives over the past seven months, the Chief Minister told the Ambassador that Punjab provided an ideal platform for Japan for expanding and augmenting its industrial presence.Leading a high-level delegation, Captain Amarinder pointed out that Punjab had deep footprint and ages of connect with Japanese companies such as ISUZU (Automobiles), Sigma Freudenberg NOK (Oil Seal), Kansai Nerolac (Industrial Paint), Yanmar Sonalika (Tractors & Agricultural Implement), Toppan (Printing). The state’s new 'Industrial and Business Development Policy, 2017' had paved the way for further strengthening this connect, he said, adding that the policy was in line with his government’s commitment to the people of Punjab to revive the industry and re-establish the pristine glory of the state.
Captain Amarinder further pointed out that the implementation of special power tariff at Rs.5 per unit for five years with upgradation in distribution infrastructure, which were among the key features of the policy, would further ease business in Punjab, which had already been identified as leaders in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the country by the World Bank and Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP).
Besides, he told the envoy, there were some inherent advantages in setting up enterprises in Punjab, as it was a state devoid of industrial disputes, and boasted of abundant availability of water/ electricity at competitive rates, high per capita income, best level of education, excellent infrastructure and connectivity.The Chief Minister apprised the Ambassador of his government’s plans to set up Punjab State Industrial & Business Development Authority, whereby all the Industrial Estates that are currently maintained and managed by different agencies, would be brought under one agency. This, he said, would ensure effective and uniform maintenance and management policies across the State.
The government was also planning to set up four new industrial parks and 12 new industrial estates in Punjab, besides a Skills University, coupled with industry-specific skill development centres, the Chief Minister further informed the Ambassador.
The skill training schemes, he said, would be brought under one agency, namely the Punjab Skill Development Mission, he added.The conditions in the state, said the Chief Minister, were extremely favourable for industrial development and cooperation with Japan in key areas, such as Renewable Energy, in which he proposed a pilot project for the conversion of Rice Husk (Bio mass) into Ethanol (Energy fuel). NEDO would provide financial grant to the Japanese company for the 100-ton capacity project, paving the way for large scale replication to convert biomass to energy. The government, he said, was in the process of preparing a detailed roadmap and a broad-based policy to encourage companies to set up such ventures, with the Department of Renewable Energy working on the same.Besides funding through JICA for solarisation of agricultural pumps, the Chief Minister has also proposed setting up of a Japanese Industrial Township and cooperation in Small and medium Enterprise, preferably in manufacturing sector. He offered various strategic sites, including Rajpura (Patiala) for Electronic Park with a Japanese anchor unit, Mattewara (Ludhiana) for Automobile Park with Japanese anchor unit, Sundra (Dera Bassi) for Pharma Park with Japanese anchor unit and Amritsar for Food Processing Park with Japanese anchor unit.
Proposing Anchor Company as well as SME units from Japan, the Chief Minister said all these sites were good on account of Accessibility to customers; Infrastructure, Water, Road, Logistics; Land acquisition/Leasing/Pricing; Single Window Resource; Quality Labour Availability; and Liveability for Expats (Quality Residence, School, Clinic, Golf course).The Department of Industries & Commerce would take the proposal forward with the Japanese authorities, Captain Amarinder added.In the field of skill development, the Chief Minister suggested a Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme, for which the Department of Technical Education and Department of Industries would explore the possibility of participation. The Chief Minister said his government would take up with the Central Government the issue of setting up of Japan India Institute of Manufacturing (JIM) in the next phase, after installation of the same in Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan, for which a study is to be undertaken. Collaboration with the Multi Skill Development Centres will be undertaken to explore the possibility of running the programme, he told the envoy.Congratulating the Chief Minister for the initiatives taken by his government to boost industrial growth in the state, the Japanese ambassador said there was huge potential for cooperation and collaboration in various segments. He evinced keen interest in the proposals mooted by the Punjab delegation, led by Captain Amarinder, and said he would discuss these with his government for early action and implementation. Industrial cooperation between Punjab and Japan was in the interest of both, said the Ambassador, pointing out that the time was ripe for his country to strengthen its presence in the state.