ITC today evinced interest in signing an mou with the Punjab government for establishing a Food Park in Ludhiana district besides asserting that it was committed to establishing four luxury hotels in Punjab under its brand name.This assurance was given by ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar and Executive Director Kurush Grant during a meeting with a Punjab government team headed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal which held a meeting with the top management of ITC at the renowned ITC Green Centre here.The Deputy CM on his part told the ITC management that the Punjab government was taking proactive steps to invite investment into the State and that besides agro processing and hotels, ITC could also invest in the IT sector in Mohali. “We have 600 acres of land available alongside the upcoming international airport and we are ready to give out parcels to leading companies in the quickest possible time to give a kick start to the IT industry in Punjab”, he added.
Giving details of the steps ITC could take vis a vis the proposed Food Park, Mr Kurush Grant informed that the company was contemplating establishing a Food Park which would manufacture biscuits, juices and confectionary products on 30 acres of land in Ludhiana district. Mr Sukhbir Badal requested Financial Commissioner Development Suresh Kumar to facilitate the establishing of the Food Park.Mr Suresh Kumar while participating in the discussion also requested ITC to process flour from Punjab wheat and offered that the State was ready to advise farmers to sow the varieties needed by the company. He similarly requested ITC to consider maize production.Meanwhile Mr Sukhbir Badal said the State government could engage ITC to connect the e-service centres proposed to be established by the government in more than 12,000 villages in the State in the next six months with their e-chaupal programme. The programme offers advice on agriculture related issues to farmers. Mr Badal also urged ITC to consider participating in the textile hub being established by the government.
VISIT TO RANBAXY HEADQUARTERS – The Deputy CM also visited the headquarters of Ranbaxy here and held detailed discussions with its top management including its Chairman Dr Tsutomu Une and CEO Arun Sawhney.The Ranbaxy CEO informed the Deputy CM that the company was looking for expansion in Punjab as it would soon run out of capacity. He said the company was looking forward to support from the Punjab government and that it was ready to accelerate its investment in the State.Punjab chief secretary Rakesh Singh informed the Ranbaxy management that the State had decided to establish a Bureau of Investment Promotion. He said the CEO of hits bureau would be vested with all the powers of department heads like that of the Pollution Board and the Labour Commissioner. “Our endeavour is to ensure industrialists do not face any problem in getting any clearance and we are also allowing self-certification to make the process of getting clearances even faster”, he added.The Deputy CM was accompanied with chief parliamentary secretary N K Sharma and senior officers including Housing Secretary Venu Prasad and Industries Secretary Karan Avtar Singh.