After holding the ‘Rising Himachal- Global Investors' Meet’ last year, the State Government is planning to organise another ground breaking ceremony to attract investments on the occasion of three years of completion of the State Government.

The BJP led State Government will complete its three years tenure in Himachal on December 27.

The ‘Rising Himachal- Global Investors' Meet’ 2019 had attracted an estimated investment worth Rs 96,721 crore and 703 MoUs were signed.

“The State Government is committed towards sustainable development of Himachal and is making all out efforts to strengthen the industries sector, as industry plays a pivotal role in the sustainable development. To make Himachal an ideal destination for investment, the State Government is ensuring balanced growth of industrial and service sectors,” said an official spokesman.

He said that Himachal has made its journey from traditional herbs to become Asia's largest Pharma hub, from exporting limestone to a manufacturing cement hub, from perennial rivers to becoming a power surplus state, from apples and peaches to agri processing units, starting from gurukuls to now emerging as education hub and from traditional handloom to textile park and hub.

To forge ahead the journey of industrial development and to make Himachal Pradesh an investor friendly state, the government is giving priority to approval of NOC under Section 118 and the state level single window clearance is also facilitating the approval process for investing in the state, the spokesman said.

The government created policies which include Himachal Pradesh Tourism Policy 2019, IT Policy and Ayush Policy, under which various assistance were being ensured to investors. Film Policy-2019 has been notified to make Himachal the first preference state for film producers.

The government has notified the Himachal Pradesh Industrial Investment Policy-2019 to create a congenial investment climate for existing industries to grow as well as attract further investment for creating employment opportunities for local youth and to ensure development of Industrial and Service Sector throughout the state, the spokesman said.

Under Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Himachal Pradesh started its journey from 17th position and now has been ranked 7th in the country in ease of doing business ranking and has been considered as the number one state, who has performed exceptionally well in its journey of reforms under EoDB, he said.

The state has also improved its implementation score from 65.48 percent in 2017-18 to 94.13 percent in 2019 and also emerged as the fastest growing state in the EoDB. The state has emerged as the leading hill state and aspiring leader and recognized for regulatory change. Himachal has also topped in the ranking done by NITI Aayog as regards efforts being made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The spokesman further said, “In order to turn the educated youth from job seekers to job creator and to give support to the ‘Startup’ and ‘innovative projects’ in the state and to provide skills to the youth and potential investors to develop entrepreneurship, “Chief Minister’s Startup, Innovation Projects or New Industries Scheme” has been started. Till date, about 100 people have benefitted from this scheme in the state, with an expenditure of Rs 1,69,52,648.”

This initiative envisages various incentives for startups so as to enable the entrepreneur’s success in their ventures. It also makes provision of creation of incubation Centers in the host institutions in the state in order to build capacities, develop networking, establish necessary infrastructure and generate awareness, he added.