Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday underlined the importance of revival of existing industries in the new industrial policy, which should focus on promoting a ‘business first’ philosophy.
The new policy should focus on revival of industry, with preference to existing industries, said the Chief Minister, adding that the state should extend all possible help to industries and businesses, especially to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to develop and expand.
Capt Amarinder, addressing a meeting to discuss the state’s new draft industrial policy, emphasised the need for a mind-set change in the government, with focus on facilitation.
Industry and business houses should be treated as partners and not be subjected to suspicion, he said.
The discussion also centred on the need for infrastructure development to facilitate business and it was proposed to set up a Punjab State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (PSIIC) for the purpose.
Besides upgradation of the power sector, the policy would look at the development of four industrial parks and 10 industrial estates as part of the policy, which will be focused on enhancing ease of doing business in Punjab.
Identifying the services sector as a key priority in the proposed policy, the Chief Minister said that the government was targeting a total investment of Rs 5 lakh crore in five years around seven core strategic pillars of growth - infrastructure, power, MSME, startup and entrepreneurship, skill development, ease of doing business and investment promotion, and fiscal incentive.
The policy, being prepared to synergise with the central government industrial policy, would envisage one anchor unit for all the priority sectors, he said.
“Promotion of entrepreneurial business would be a key focus area of the policy…The thrust should be on facilitating the development of 1000 start-ups to enable economic growth and employment generation in the State,” he said adding that 50 entrepreneurship skill development centres in colleges are proposed to be set up to encourage and motivate youth to go in for self-employment.
Establishment of common facility centres and seamless online services, backed by re-engineering of processes, were discussed in detail at the meeting.
In response to a query from the Chief Minister regarding seamless integration of the core services required to facilitate business, officials suggested that a single technology platform be developed for listing of requirements of all departments, which should have a common look and feel.
It was pointed out that with two lakh services capable of being handled on one portal, the integration of the services could be easily achieved.
As per the discussion, the state is keen to focus on manufacturing in textile and apparel, cycle and cycle parts, automobiles and auto components, light engineering, leather and sports goods, petro-chemicals, secondary steel, NRSE equipment, agri and food processing, electronics, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, aerospace and defence.
In the services sector, the focus will be on IT and ITES, life sciences, logistics, tourism and hospitality, entertainment and film industry, healthcare, education services, retail and reality.