After the first phase of investors meet in metropolitan cities of Bangaluru, Mumbai and State Gujarat, which added to an investment of Rs4800 crore in Himachal, the second phase of ‘Emerging Himachal- Investors Meet’ was held on Monday in New Delhi with an aim to woo entrepreneurs from Delhi NCR.
The proposals for setting up industrial units to manufacture products across a wide spectrum of industries were discussed in length during the second phase of ‘Emerging Himachal-Investors Meet’ presided over by the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at New Delhi.
Himachal Pradesh Government and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) jointly organised the ‘Emerging Himachal-Investors Meet’ to promote Himachal Pradesh as preferred investment destination.
Various proposals were received and consensus reached upon many in investors meet where around 1400 investors participated. In one-to-one interaction meet, a proposal was submitted by Australia based Himachali doctor couple from Palampur (Sulah), who wants to set up a hospital and a medical school and to promote medical tourism with Trauma and pathologists expertise from Australia.
As three more industrial areas are coming in Himachal at Kandrori in Kangra, Solan and Pandoga which could be ideally used for setting up of a group of industries engaged in production of Defence related equipments, a proposal was received from ‘Eirene Systems’ to set up Defence industry manufacturing unit in the State with an investment of around 1.5 billion US dollars. Defence equipments including aeronautical equipments which is being procured from abroad can be manufactured in such clusters with foreign collaboration and the technical expertise.
Surya Ushma Private limited in collaboration with South Africa group proposed to invest in solar energy of around 100 MW initially in the State in Spiti valley and also placed their proposal and evinced keen interest in manufacturing of solar panels.
The proposal to invest approximately Rs1000 crore, for setting up portable self-service fuel filling stations (petrol pumps), a new world-wide patented technology by Alinz (India), in collaboration with Czech Republic, was also discussed. The proposal is to set up these petrol pumps mainly in agricultural and rural areas, flood hit areas to cater to needs of rescue teams, tourist circuits etc with intake capacity of 35,000 litres each having inbuilt power backup and can be installed in just two hours.
The representatives were asked to submit the proposal as soon as possible and conduct survey as per their needs and the Government will come forward for the assistance, said the Chief Minister.
Krish Iyer, CEO, Wallmart India extended proposal to open as many as five Wallmart retail stores with an investment of 10 million US dollars generating employment to 2000 persons. He requested for land of around two to three acres somewhere in the suburbs of Shimla,Solan, Mandi, Dharamsala, Kangar or Palampur. TATA group came up with a proposal of expansion of already existing residential housing project in the State and Himalayan Water Plant. Possibility of expansion of their existing Knowledge Processing Organisations (KPOs) was also discussed along-with setting up of skill based centre of excellence to train local Himachali youths in soft skills.
The Government assured representatives of TATA group of companies of all possible assistance required for setting up new ventures in the State.
The Himalayan brand water has made its way to Singapore and United States. The TATA group was also constructing Myst housing project at Kasauli and requested for adequate piece of land to come up with more such projects.
A proposal was also received by Microtek International to invest Rs400 crore to expand existing units and to add new plants to manufacture solar equipments in a big way and to manufacture solar invertors, solar batteries to harness solar energy.
It was agreed in principle to sign an MoU with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for marketing of Himachali products and tourism. A proposal was also discussed upon to invest additional Rs150 crore to bottle and manufacture Pepsico food and beverages products.
The proposal to invest up Rs100 crore by Greenlam more in expansion of its existing project at Nalagarh for Ply laminate was also considered in the meet.
The Chief Minister has directed to repair and manage the roads leading to the existing industrial units in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Area (BBNA). It was disclosed that tenders worth Rs42 crore have been floated for paths, roads, street lights in BBNA and the proposals of the existing units for improving the roads was agreed upon unanimously.