As a follow up to high level meeting held between Chief Minister HP and Union Commerce, Industries & Textiles Minister, recently in Delhi, Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister, Himachal Pradesh, led a high level team consisting of Chief Secretary S. Roy, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. P.C. Kapoor and other Senior Govt. Officers called on the Union Commerce, Industries & Textiles Minister Anand Sharma in his office in New Delhi Today.
This was followed by a detailed meeting with Senior Officers of Government of India comprising of Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Secretary (Textiles), Additional and Joint Secretaries, Development Commissioner for Handlooms and other senior Officers from the Ministries headed by Anand Sharma. The State Government put forth the demand for the extension of Special Industrial Package which had completely expired now. Detailed presentation about the requirement of funds under various GoI Schemes was made in the meeting. State Government projected requirement of Rs. 1500 crores for strengthening of industrial infrastructure and facilities for giving further impetus to industrial investment in the State.The Union Commerce Minister during the course of discussion agreed in-principle to sanction Rs. 95 crores under the Assistance to States for Infrastructural Development of Exports (ASIDE) Scheme for which State Government was asked to submit detailed Project Reports. The Minister also assured to consider proposals under Industrial Infrastructure Up-gradation (IIUS) Scheme for strengthening Industrial Infrastructure in the State. He asked the State Government to submit proposals in details for further consideration by the Ministry.
The Union Minister also agreed in-principle to consider the sanction of Handloom Development Centres for Special category States for Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, Kinnaur & Chamba Districts at the total cost of Rs. 44.70 crores. It was also agreed that Development Commissioner for Handloom & Handicrafts would jointly organize Buyers-Sellers Meets to give boost to Handloom & Handicraft products from the State. The Union Minister also assured to sanction Technical Textile Park for the State in near future once the Scheme is approved. While considering the state demand for creation of adequate skill up-gradation infrastructure, it was agreed to open four Apparel Design & Training Centres in Himachal Pradesh. To fully develop the State’s potential on Oak Based Tasar silk, the Minister agreed to open Oak based Tasar Research Centre in the State. He also assured the support of his Ministry for promotion, development and rejuvenation of Tea Industry in the State. He also directed the officers of the Indian Institute of Packaging to visit the State within 10 days to finalise the design & Material for keeping Apples especially for export. The Union Minister emphasized upon the need for establishing strong linkages with National Manufacturing Policy and dove-tail the development of existing industrial areas with national manufacturing zones proposed to be set up in various parts of the country under the National Industrial Manufacturing Policy. Sh. Mukesh Agnihotri strongly pleaded the case for extension of Industrial Incentive Package for the State. He also urged the Union Minister to request the Leading Industrial Houses to invest in Himachal Pradesh. The Union Minister assured that the GoI was sympathetic, supportive and sensitive towards the needs of the State and would take a positive view in the matter.