The State Government would be exploring possibility of setting up of three Special Economic Zones at Solan, Kangra and Una and extend all possible assistance for the revival of the Handicraft and Handloom, Khadi and Village Industry in the state to generate maximum rural employment to the artisans of the state. This was revealed by Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while reviewing the progress of the Industries Department, HP State Finance Corporation, HP General Industries Corporation, HP Small Industries Development Corporation, HP Small Scale Industries and Export Corporation, Khadi and Village Industries Corporation, here today.
Chief Minister said that the need had emerged to develop Special Economic Zones in the State to meet the emerging demand of the global industrialization. He said that the State Government had proposed setting up of three such zones in the districts of Kangra, Solan and Una areas so that all the three were equitably dispersed allover the state. He said that with the development of such zones the entire state would be in a position to manufacture world class products and enter the international market of trading.
Virbhadra Singh said that the Rs. 21 crore were being spent on infrastructure development in Baddi industrial area so that basic infrastructural facilities were created to match the best industrial standard. He said that besides soon the Inland Container Depot would also be coming up in Baddi to facilitate the industrialists import and export their required material from the area. He said that the state government had already made the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority to monitor proper and planned development of the industrial sectors.
Chief Minister said that the state was rich in handloom and handicraft arts which required to be promoted. He said that since the activities related to the rural artisans and their livelihood and the state government would be extending all possible help to revive the same by lending supporting hand for the viability of the commercial activities. He said that the state was known for quality handcrafts and handlooms and there existed a large market outside the state for selling the same which required to be explored for boosting the commercial activities. He said that the Tl1anka Painting, GuIer and Kangra paintings were the sole propriety of the state which needed to be promoted by training the young artists so that the art was patronized and promoted at the national and international level.
Virbhadra Singh said that the Khadi and Village Industry Board also related to the rural people and required to be revived by adopting marketing strategy for selling the khadi products profitably. He said that his government was considering exempting the khadi manufacturing units in the state from excise duties and reimburse the rebate offered during Gandhi Jayanti festival offers to the Board. He said that official supplies would also be procured from the Board so increase the chance of viability.
Chief Minister said that although the state had succeeded in attracting a large number of multinational companies to invest in Himachal Pradesh and efforts were afoot to invite global and quality industries to set up their units in the state so that the industrialization could be given the renewed momentum. He said that the extension of the special industrial package had approved to be a boon for the industrialization and large number of proposals were pouring in from all over which were being processed for early clearance. He said that the state had good industrial friendly and safe investment environment which was one of the rarest facility available to industrialists. He hoped that more multinational industries would be coming to the state in the near future.
Virbhadra Singh the state had been producing best quality silk and efforts would be made to revive the silk industry and make Nurpur Silk Mills more viable. He emphasized the need to make concerted efforts to make every public sector I undertaking viable by adopting strict commercial discipline under the guidance of marketing professionals.
Kuldeep Kumar, Industries Minister, welcomed the Chief Minister and said that majority of public sector undertakings, the subsidiaries of the Industries Department were fast emerging out of its red and registering significant increase in their profit margins. He said that efforts were afoot to bring the loss bearing undertakings also into profit in coming time.
S.S. Parmar, Chief Secretary said that constant monitoring of the strict financial discipline was being ensured besides diversifying the activities.
Press note via Himachal I&PR Dept.
AS state has announced three SEZ zones to be developed.
How these three zones will be developed like land acqisition,who are developer,time frame in which SEZ will be developed,infrastructure in the ZONE,as there is huge investment in development of SEZ and lot of debate is going on at national lavel on SEZ.Public Interest Litigation is also pending at various courts.
If HP govt. takes the help from experts of SEZ than problems can be solved.