Terming the 40-per cent contribution of the manufacturing sector in the gross state domestic product (GSDP) in Odisha as ‘remarkable’, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday emphasised the need to further strengthen the sector.
“Prime Minister Modi has emphasised rapid growth of the manufacturing sector in the eastern part of the country to match with the western part, which has made remarkable progress and development in industries and manufacturing sectors,” said Sitharaman addressing a two-day ‘National Symposium on Manufacturing and Best Practices to Improve Business Environment’ that began here.
The symposium was jointly organised by the Department of Industry Policy & Promotion, Government of India, and the Industries Department of Odisha.The Minister said more impetus is needed for the manufacturing sector to take the country on the road to faster economic growth and development.
She said the Modi Government is for revival of the manufacturing sector, which would boost economic growth in the country.Speaking on the occasion. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “Odisha is a leading State in mineral processing. During the last decade, the State has seen phenomenal growth in primary metal making, power generation and infrastructure capacity augmentation.”
To improve the business environment, the State Government has taken many initiatives like online registration of MSME units, single-window clearance of business proposals, Integrated Mines and Minerals Management System for the mineral sector, reforms in the Commercial Tax Department, etc., said Patnaik, adding that there is ample scope for improvement and adoption of new practices.
While emphasising reforms, Patnaik said, “Now, we are focussed on creating an environment to build capacities for further value addition. We are building new industrial parks, developing industrial corridors and planning large Investment Regions. I understand that without improvement in the business environment through reforms, it is not possible to build entrepreneurship and achieve the desired targets.”
The State Government has undertaken significant measures for skill development, building training centres, social sector development while ensuring protection of environment, generation of local employment and rehabilitation and resettlement programmes in tandem with the development of infrastructure for the manufacturing segment, Patnaik further said.
A few Best Practices identified by the DIPP will be presented in the symposium and these include finance and tax-related compliances, single-window clearance system, infrastructure and utilities-related approvals, land and building-related approvals, labour law-related compliances and environmental clearances.
land-related intervention by Gujarat, single-window clearance for industries by Maharashtra and Punjab, labour management solution by Maharashtra, environmental clearances by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, integrated and comprehensive system for managing indirect taxes in Karnataka and other best practices taken up by various State Governments will be presented in the symposium.
State Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Industries Secretaries of all States and managing directors of industrial development corporations of all States are attending the symposium.