In a bid to attract more investments and create employment opportunities, the Punjab government will focus on Agro and Food Processing, IT, Bio Sciences, Healthcare, Textiles, Electronic Hardware, Automobiles, Garments, sports goods and leather industry generating about 1.5 lakh direct and indirect job opportunities in next two years. Besides, this, government has gave its nod to setup private industrial parks in the state vis-a-vis developing e-commerce and banking hubs at SAS Nagar. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the chairman of Punjab Investment Advisory Council today held a brainstorming session here with ace industrialists to realise the dream of making Punjab a most favoured investment destination. Inviting the industrial giants to promote 'Make in Punjab', Mr. Badal emphasised that being agrarian state Punjab have immense potential to exploit in every sector and offered all support to set up ventures.
Flanked with Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Member Parliament Mr. Naresh Gujral, Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal of Hero Group, Mr. Onkar Singh Kanwar, Apollo Group, Mr. Atul Punj of Punj Llyods, Mr. Rajinder Gupta of Trident Group, Mr. Kamal Oswal of Nahar Industries and galaxy of senior officers, Deputy CM asked Chief Secretary and CEO Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion Mr Anirudh Tiwari to submit a proposal for amendments in labour laws and other issues related to the industry by December 15. He also asked Mr. Tiwari to curtail the time limit for provisioning of all clearances and NOCs from 41 days to less than a month.
In detailed deliberations to encourage food processing industry in the state, Mr. Munjal suggested to setup a cluster of food parks and to promote organic farming as more than 20,000 acres of land were already under organic farming. Mr. Badal informed that food processing units would come on a total 550 acres of land at Fazilka, Ladhowal, Kapurthala very soon while Mohali, Gurdaspur and Nawan Shahr would also get food parks. He said Kapurthala would have one of the largest mega food park of north India at a cost of Rs. 800 crore being setup by ITC.
On the demand of M/s Field Fresh Food to change the definition of new units vis-a-vis expansion units for incentive purposes and exclusion of distilleries, brewing, bottling and canning plant from the negative list, Mr. Badal on the spot gave directions to authorities concerned to notify these changes within two weeks.
During deliberations seeking amendments in current norms, Mr. Kamal Oswal offered to setup world class private industrial park and informed that a group of top industrial houses were also eager to establish such parks in the state. Mr. Badal asked Chief Secretary to convene a meeting in this regard so that the necessary action could be initiated at the earliest.
Proposing to have a meet with leaders of e-commerce sector, Mr. Onkar Singh Kanwar said there should be e-commerce hub near Mohali. He suggested that small and medium industries of Punjab could provide the required products to e-commerce companies at affordable prices. Mr. Rajinder Gupta emphasised to bring banking hub in the satellite towns of Chandigarh to cater the commercial needs of industries pertaining to banking sector.Assuring industrialists good results in this regard, Mr. Badal asked PBIP CEO to prepare a detailed report in this regard to establish both hubs at SAS Nagar after meeting with heads of e-commerce companies and bankers.
Deputy Chief Minister on the request of Mr. Oswal directed PBIP to take collections of cancer funds also from the investors in the office of Bureau instead of depositing it in the treasury or banks. Reviewing the status of projects being setup in the state, Mr. Badal said 125 projects worth Rs. 6000 crore have been processed while 10 proposals with an estimated investment of Rs. 2000 crore were under active processing. Clearances to 62 projects have been awarded, which would generate expected direct and indirect employment for 60000 persons.
Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Mr. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commisioner Development, Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary Investment Promotion, Mrs. Kalpana Mittal Baruah, Principal Resident Commissioner, Mr. Vishwajit Khanna Principal Secretary Labour, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. A.Venu Prasad, Secretary Housing, Mr. S.R. Ladhar, Secretary Food Processing, Mr. KAP Sinha, Secretary Science & Technology and Environment, Mr. K. Shiva Prasad, Resident Commissioner and Mr. D.K. Tiwari, Director Investment Promotion.