ICICI, Indian multinational banking and financial services company, on Monday offered to include financial services in the Sewa Kendras being established in Punjab besides becoming partners in setting up skill development centers.
The offer was made by ICICI managing director and CEO Chanda Kochar during his meeting with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal at the ICICI Bank Towers at Mumbai.
Besides meeting Kochar, Sukhbir also called upon Piramal group chairman Dr Ajay Piramal, l&T chairman AM Naik, and Hinduja group chairman Ashok Hinduja besides others.
Sukhbir, as a part of Government’s effort to boost investment in the State, is currently on a visit to the country’s commercial capital, Mumbai, to woo top business houses and investors to invest in Punjab.
During the meeting, Kochhar said that ICICI could include banking services as well as social welfare transactions and agri short term loans within the Sewa Kendras. She said that this would go a long way towards financial inclusion.
She also offered to sign a MoU with the State government to ensure state employees. She said that she would visit Punjab for this purpose besides sending a team to the State.
Following a proposal by the Deputy Chief Minister, the ICICI MD also offered to partner with the Punjab government in developing skill centers for girls.
Sukhbir said that the State was offering a model whereby the government would construct the infrastructure while interested companies could provide soft skills and manage the centers.
He said that his vision was to invite major companies to do rural banking within more than 2,000 Sewa Kendra complexes coming up in the State. ICICI also offered Aadhar certification, life time certification and online collection solutions on the occasion.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with Ajay Piramal of Piramal group, Sukhbir highlighted the initiatives taken by Punjab including establishing Invest Punjab department, decision to charge lowest power tariff of Rs 4.90 per unit for all new industry for a 10-year period and concessions including facility to retain as much 90 per cent VAT.
Piramal, appreciating the steps taken by Punjab from the stand point of ease of doing business, said that his company would examine ways and means to contribute in the State's growth story.
Sukhbir, during his meetings, said that establishing IT and data centers in Mohali were 25 per cent more cost effective then Mumbai and Bangalore. He said that besides physical infrastructure, Mohali also had the best social infrastructure.
He also held meetings with head of l&T and Hinduja group besides representatives of Shapoorji Pallonji group. l&T chairman AM Naik said that l&T had invested Rs 13,000 in Punjab and would continue to collaborate in infrastructure projects in the State.