Terming the revival of industrial sector in near future in State as the Punjab Government’s top priority, the State Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora has said the State Government is fully committed to evolve every step necessary to ensure more and more investments in industrial sector and promotion of tourism sector in Punjab.
Arora, after inaugurating Punjab Day celebrations at Hamsadhwani Theatre organised by the Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department during the ongoing India International Trade Fair-2018, said the Government has notified Business and Industrial Policy-2017 under which 143 MoUs have been signed with renowned industrialists of the country focusing on investment to the tune of Rs 4,335 crore.
This step will play a pivotal role in strengthening the industrial sector in Punjab and would generate employment opportunities on large scale as well, he said.
With an aim to provide ease to the new investors, Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion has been established as one-stop authority for approving new commercial and investment proposals, Arora said, adding State has recently launched Business First Portal Website to provide platform for regulatory services.
The Cabinet Minister revealed that in order to revive the traditional industries in the state, the approval has been given to honey cluster in Bathinda, wooden inlay in Hoshiarpur and to other few under MSME (Medium and Small Scale Enterprise) Scheme of the Central Government.
He also said the State Government is laying special emphasis in development of traditional craft specially the handicraft such as phulkari, would inlay work with the involvement of department of tourism department.
Arora added the State Government has also constituted District Level Micro Small Enterprises Facilitation Counsels in seven districts — Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Mohali and Sangrur — under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners so as to ensure early disposal of cases of delay in payments, disputes of interest and other ones at the district level.
“The State Government’s main focus is to make the industrial sector as pivotal driver for strengthening the state’s economy and make it able for contribution in creating job opportunities,” he said, adding that the main aim of the new industrial policy is to strengthen the economy of Punjab and the Government is fully committed to evolve every step necessary for ensuring the same.
Arora said the State Government is also giving special emphasis and providing incentives to the investors for the development and promotion of tourism in the State. “The State’s tourism tagline — India Begins Here — is true in many ways. The iconic Golden Temple in Amritsar has been acknowledged as the most visited destination in the world as per London-based Book of World Records. It is also the cleanest religious place in India,” he said.
He added to promote cultural and natural heritage of the State, the State has notified its first cultural policy and revised the tourism policy.
“Punjab has taken a big leap in foreign tourist visits in the State, and it is now ranking in the seventh position in the country,” he said.