Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said that there are immense possibilities for investment in the electronics and IT sectors in the State. He was addressing the delegates on the concluding day of the two-day ‘Vision Summit- 2015’ organised by the India Electronics and Semi-Conductor’ Association (I.E.S.A) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Singh said that Chhattisgarh had unveiled new policy on electronics, IT and ITeS last week. There are several attractive features in the new policy for the potential investors. Better infrastructural facilities will be provided soon, the Chief Minister stated. He said that the Central Government has accepted and approved the proposal to develop Electronic Manufacturing Park on 70 acres of land at Naya Raipur.
Several electronics manufacturing units like medical electronic equipment, home theatre, mobile phones, CCTV cameras, television sets and set-top box and computer spare parts, can be established in the Park, he said. There is a scope for Rs500 cr investment in the sector, he said. Singh said that after developing core sectors like aluminium, cement, steel and power sectors, the State Government is keen on developing non-core sectors.
The State in a short span of 14 years has made spectacular strides in all sectors. The work culture and industrial atmosphere is healthy in Chhattisgarh. He invited those present at the Vision Summit to invest in the State. ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’ is on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign.
“There was a need to amend industrial policy and IT policies, which we have done taking several inputs into consideration”, Singh said. ‘Eco-system’ is being built for the conducive development of I.T. Single window will be developed soon, he added. Singh said that importance is being given to Information Technology, organic farming, solar energy and automobile industry.
The entire landscape from Bastar to Surguja is covered with forest area. About Rs3,000 crore small forest produce business takes place in the State. The New Industrial Policy 2014-19 was passed recently by the Cabinet, the Chief Minister said. Singh said in the new policy focus was laid on IT Developer, IT unit, Electronic producer, data centre. There are many proposals to encourage the potential investors.
He added that Chhattisgarh is the first State to have 24 hour power supply to all the citizens. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary, Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Chhattisgarh Aman Kumar Singh also addressed the gathering. Chief Minister’s Joint Secretary and Director of PR Department Rajat Kumar and a number of senior officers were also present at the summit.
Incidentally, Chhattisgarh has received maximum proposals in the country for setting up industrial projects, according to the latest Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM) list released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Government of India. The State has received investment proposals to the tune of Rs1,61, 836 crores which is way ahead of the second rank holder, Maharashtra. Chief Minister Raman Singh credited the achievement to the conducive industrial environment and developing people of the State and said that he anticipates that these proposals will convert into real investments. “This will take the industrial growth rate much higher than other States”, he said.
The officials said that according to the IEM list released in September 2014, as many as 24 big investors have filed IEMs for setting industries in Chhattisgarh with an investment proposal of Rs1,61,836 crores. For an investment of more than Rs5 crore, the IEM is filed with the DIPP. Of the total proposals filed with DIPP, about 45 per cent investment proposals are for Chhattisgarh. The proposals include Salasar Steel and Power, Vaibhav Energy, GVS Industries, DB Power, Adani Mining Private limited, Real Ispat and Power limited, Hind Multiservices Private limited, Nova Iron and Steel limited, BEC Fertilizers, Vedanta Washery and logistic Solutions Private limited, Ecorex Buildtech Private limited, Adani Synergy limited, Adani Enterprises limited, Keshav Energy, BEC Foods, Ananta Power Projects Private limited, Goyal Energy and Steel Private limited, Shyam Indus Power Solutions Private limited.
The proposals are mainly for setting up iron and steel, power, solar power, mining, food products, food processing etc industries in the State. This investment proposal proves that the environment is favourable for industrial investment in the State. In addition to this, the new investment policies for agriculture, food processing policy and solar policy has been successful in attracting the investment proposals, officials said.
A Global Investors Meet is also proposed in the State to attract investments in non-core sectors and an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster is coming up in Naya Raipur and a Mega Food Park in Dhamtari district. Work is underway for Engineering Park in Bhilai for setting up engineering equipment industries, officials added.
The Electronic Manufacturing Cluster will be established by Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation ltd (CSIDCl) during the next three years. The CSIDCl had sent a proposal to the Central Government regarding development of ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ over 70 acres of land in Naya Raipur.
The estimated cost of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ is Rs105 crore where the Central Government will contribute Rs50 crore for the project while remaining expenses will be borne by State Government itself. Development of the 'Electronic Manufacturing Cluster' will open gates for investment of Rs500 crore in 50 industries and will create employment opportunities for about 1000 people.
It is a major achievement in the direction of establishing pollution-free industries of non-core sector in Naya Raipur, officials stated. Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industry, N Baijendra Kumar stated that setting-up of pollution-free industries in the State is on the priority list of Chhattisgarh Government.
The ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will consist nearly 50 units of manufacturing electronic items, electronic panels, medical electronic devices, electronic gadgets, home theatre, USB, electronic goods, commercial lights, micro transformers quill, charger, mobile phones, CCTV camera, television, computer hard drive, computer peripherals, set up box, lED light, Inverter, energy meter, automotive electronics, note books, tablets, printers etc.
The project will enable investment of Rs500 crore and thus will create employment for about 1000 people. The ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will be equipped with ultra modern amenities along with shopping centre, warehouse, hostel, club, training centre, tool room, solid waste management, waste management plant and support service centre, etc.
Moreover, in August last year, Chhattisgarh took its first step forward under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feverish ‘Make In India’ campaign with a Chinese firm agreeing to establish a Rs100 crore manufacturing-cum- assembling unit for PC components, tablets and smart phones near Raipur. The unit would be Chhattisgarh’s first of its kind electronic IT manufacturing and assembling facility, officials stated. An MoU to this effect was signed between Chhattisgarh InfoTech and Biotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) and Chinese firm M/s Forstar Industry ltd in the presence of Chief Minister Raman Singh here.
The MoU was inked by CEO, CHiPS, Saurabh Kumar and Director of Forstar Industry ltd, Davi at a programme organised at Chief Minister Raman Singh’s residence in Raipur. To achieve the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India’, Chief Minister Raman Singh has given the slogan of ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’.
As per the MoU, the Chinese company will set up a project at Urkura Industrial Area near Raipur to manufacture PC components, smart phones and laptops. The industrial plot for the project would be developed by Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC). Incidentally, the CSIDC is also developing an IT Park at the proposed project site where the Chinese firm has agreed to establish its project. By signing the MoU, the Chinese firm has agreed to invest an estimated Rs100 crore on the project.
In a year's time, the plant would employ around 200 persons. At full scale, direct and ancillary units employment would be created for more than 1,000 persons. This industry has the potential to grow further in terms of employment opportunities also with the increase in manufacturing capacity, officials stated. Indirect employment for more than a thousand people would also be created in area of software development, training, distribution channels/network, soft content making, maintenance and service support etc would also be created.
Officials of the company informed that it would also offer skill improvement training to youth of Chhattisgarh in IT sector. Initially, the company has planned to manufacture 75,000 units of gadgets per month. later the manufacturing capacity would be increased to 1 million units per year. In the simple and brief ceremony of MoU signing, Chief Minister Raman Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the slogan of ‘Make in India’ to ensure participation of industries in economic development of the country and to make India more economically independent.
To realise this dream, the Chhattisgarh Government has conceptualised the goal of ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’, as per which the State Government is inviting industrial projects to the State. In the same sequence, MoU has been signed with Chinese company to set up an IT-industry in Chhattisgarh. This is a welcoming decision that will expedite the socio-economic development of the State by opening the doors for Chhattisgarh to global market, ranging from Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia, he said. The Chief Minister said that State Government’s priority is to promote downstream industries.
He said that Naya Raipur is being developed as an extension of Raipur. Environment friendly industries will be given all kinds of facilities in Naya Raipur for setting up manufacturing units, he said.