Three mega logistics parks would be coming up in ludhiana district that would act as stimulants for the growth of Punjab’s industry.
“logistics has been added in the State Industrial Policy as it is the backbone of our entire industry and cannot be left out,” said Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora on Friday while addressing the gathering on the occasion of Punjab logistics Conclave 2018.
Punjab Government and Punjab State Container and Warehousing Corporation limited (CONWARE), in partnership with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as institutional partner and Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu India llP as knowledge partner, hosted the first of its kind Punjab logistics Conclave 2018.
Arora said that all the three Mega logistics Parks would be coming up near Kila Raipur village of the district including Multimodal logistics Park by Adani group, another logistics park by Punjab logistics Infrastructure limited and a logistics park by Punjab State Warehousing Corporation.
“These logistics parks would cater to complete logistics need of industrial belt of ludhiana including industrial hubs located close to regions such as Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Hoshiarpur…These mega logistics parks would be a one stop solution for all the logistics, transportation, warehousing needs of the region providing complete logistics solutions,” he said.
The Minister stated that a special cell has been formed by the State Government so that the logistics sector is not ignored.
“land banks have been developed by the department in different parts of the state and the State Government is willing to provide land at reserve price to the industrialists forming clusters. Till now, 25 clusters have been approved in the state and two new clusters have been approved for Oil Expeller Industry of the district,” he added.
The Minister said that for providing a lease of life for sick industrial units of the State, the Government is coming up with a One Time Settlement (OTS) policy, that would be put up in the next cabinet meeting. The State Government is committed for eradicating unemployment by boosting our industry, he added.
Arora said that due to the efforts of the Congress-led Punjab Government, several sick units in Mandi Gobindgarh area have restarted their operations, which is a good sign for Punjab’s overall industry.
He said that due to pro-industry policies of the State Government, several industrialists from across the State have been in constant touch with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and with him as they are willing to invest in the State.
The state Principal Secretary (Industries and Commerce) Rakesh Kumar Verma, and Industries and Commerce Director DPS Kharbanda informed that presently, the logistics costs for industry in India are 14 percent, while in China its 10 percent. In next five years, the Department is working hard to bring down these costs to seven-eight percent, they said.
They said that during a recent survey, Punjab stands second in the country in terms of logistics infrastructure facilities and by 2020, Punjab would be on number 1 spot. They urged the industrialists to take full advantage of Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) that has been started by the Union Government for the benefit of exporters.