Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing the inaugural session of a webinar organised by CII here today on ’HP Economic Summit-Getting the Growth Back’ said that Himachal Pradesh offers attractive incentives under the Industrial Investment Policy to boost industrialization across the State and make it more attractive and industry-friendly.
Chief Minister said that various policies such as tourism policy, film policy, information technology policy, AYUSH Policy, affordable housing Policy have been framed to attract investment in these sectors. He said that the State Government has taken a holistic view to make Himachal Pradesh an industrial hub of the country. He said that private sector participation could be fruitful in areas like tourism, infrastructure and industrial infrastructure, including housing, power generation, CA Store, software technology parks etc. ‘
Jai Ram Thakur said that the Corona pandemic has adversely affected the world economy and also the target set by the State Government after the success of the Global Investors Meet have been affected. He said that although the economy has reached the lowest ebb, but still the Government was committed to revive the same and achieve the target of investment set in the Global Investors Meet.
Chief Minister said that the industries in the State got badly affected due to lockdown and migration of the labourers. He said that out of about 3636 corona cases in the State, 800 cases were from the industrial areas of the State. He said that efforts would be made to expedite the work on four laning of the road passing through industrial areas. He said that steps were being taken to persuade the Union Government to ensure railway connectivity in Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh industrial area in Solan district
Jai Ram Thakur said that check dams would be constructed to ensure water conservation in the industrial areas to solve the water problem. He said that in MSME sector, the state was endeavouring hard to achieve the target set by the Union government. The state Government was expecting that the Himachal Pradesh would surely get one Bulk Drug Park out of the three Bulk Drugs Parks to be setup by the Union Government.
Industries Minister Bikram Singh Thakur said that the State Government was committed to provide all possible assistance for revival of the MSME in the State. He also thanked the industry for providing effective cooperation to the State Government in coping up with the pandemic.
Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Ram Subhag Singh said that the State Government has constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee for revival of the economy of the State. The Government was ensuring that the economic activities do not suffer due to Covid pandemic. He said that for the first time 2800 acre land has been identified in the State for construction of bulk drug park in the State.
Chairman, CII, Himachal Pradesh Shailesh Pathak thanked the Chief Minister for effectively tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the State. He said that the Corona pandemic has caused a loss of over Rs 30,000 crore to the State economy. He said that being a landlocked hill State, Himachal Pradesh has various developmental constrains, but at the same time this provides several added opportunities.
Vice Chairman, CII, Himachal Shailesh Aggarwal urged the Chief Minister for strengthening the rail and road network in the industrial areas of the State. He said that internal roads in industrial needed to be improved and maintained properly. He also suggested construction of check dams in Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh industrial areas.
Chairman MicroTek Subodh Gupta said that the lockdown due to Corona pandemic has resulted in slowdown of the world economy and India and Himachal Pradesh were not an exception. He said that the revenue receipts of the State has taken a huge toll. He said that State should focus of fruit processing, IT, bio technology, solar power, MSME etc. He suggested the State Government to provide special incentives to the entrepreneurs in these sectors.
Industrialist Suket Singhal said that the State of Himachal was known as fruit bowl of the country and thus fruit processing sector provides immense potential for investment. He said that Cooperatives should be formed to ensure value addition of their produce.
