Need to revitalise manufacturing sector, says CII

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, February 3

The CII has asked the state government to give priority to strengthening the manufacturing sector and development of industries in the ensuing state’s Budget.

Rahul Ahuja, Chairman, CII, Punjab, said the focus should on creating world-class industrial zones and clusters, attract investments from anchor industries, rejuvenating small-scale sectors by aligning state schemes and policies with the central schemes. He added that there was also a need to make land available for industrial development at competitive rates in the state.

He said: “The CII believes that Punjab offers opportunities in varied sectors such as textiles, engineering, food processing, leather and sports goods among others. The need of the hour is to somehow lay its hand on some big ticket investment in core manufacturing which could create a domino impact in creating a vibrant downstream industry, besides bringing in a new age technology and capital.”

The CII, in its pre Budget-memorandum to the state, emphasised a special impetus to usher reforms in key domains such as labour, power and environment.

Bhavdeep Sardana, vice-chairman of the CII, said, the focus on issuing labour licenses in a time bound manner, providing dedicated labour helpline numbers for each district and a Common Application Form (CAF) for both e-labour and invest Punjab Portals should be created to avoid duplicity.

CII wishlist suggests that the government should also identify clusters for agro and horticulture related products and cash in on central government schemes such as one district– one product to create sources of employment and livelihood for the local populace at their doorsteps.