Two more new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are currently being developed in Chhattisgarh for providing a major boost to industrial development in the State.
A Solar SEZ is being set up in Rajnandgaon which is being developed by lanco Solar Private ltd which is spread over 250 acres of the land.
The SEZ will cater to the solar equipment manufacturing industry. A 100 MWpA Polysilicon and wafer manufacturing facility by lanco Solar Private ltd. is already operational in the SEZ, officials informed.
The other key SEZ coming up is the IT/ ITeS SEZ in Naya Raipur for which a multi sector complex is being developed by Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA).
The SEZ would comprise state-of-the-art facility for manufacturers and service providers with focus on IT/ITeS and Electronics.
Notably, the total exports from State’s already operational SEZ during 2014-15 stood at Rs 3.19 crore and Rs 1.84 crore in 2013-14.
Export Promotion Council for EoUs and SEZs (EPCES) has been undertaking several activities for enhancing exports as well as resolving issues concerning EoUs and SEZs.
The Central Government, on the basis of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZ policy, officials informed.
The exports from Food and Agro, IT/ITeS, Automobiles and Auto ancillaries manufacturing, leather, Footwear and Sports goods Sector, Electronic and Hardware and Software services and Textiles sector SEZs during the last five years .
Notably, Chhattisgarh’s new hi-tech capital — Naya Raipur would also have an ‘Integrated Freight Complex’ spread in an area of 130.67 hectares, officials stated.
Early this year, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had also put forward a proposal that a ‘Cargo Hub’ should be developed in Naya Raipur .
He had stated that his Ministry will bear the entire development cost if the Chhattisgarh Government agrees to provide land for the proposed hub.
To this, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh who had met the Union Railway Minister in New Delhi and had assured the latter that his Government will provide land for the project.
The Chhattisgarh Government is already in the process of upgrading infrastructural facility to further accelerate Export-Import ( EXIM) activity from its Inland Container Depot (ICD) located at Kapa in old Raipur.
The project cost of the proposed works within the ICD campus is Rs3.10 crore, officials stated.
The project had been undertaken under ‘Developing Export Infrastructure & Allied Activities’ (ASIDE) scheme of the Central Government .
The Chhattisgarh Government is wooing prospective investors to take advantage of the State’s strategic location which shares boundaries with seven states.
The states are – Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, officials stated.
The investors would have access to 50.9 crore population (40% of country’s population) and potential to tap 38% of India’s GDP, officials stated.
Notably, Central public sector undertaking Container Corporation of India (CCI) is in the process of developing a 'logistics Hub' on over 100 acres of land in Naya Raipur, officials stated.
It may be recalled that China has also expressed keen interest in extending support to Chhattisgarh Government for developing India's ‘logistics Hub’ in the State.
Notably, State Commerce and Industry Minister Amar Agrawal in the month of January this year had suggested Consul General of People’s Republic of China MA Zhanwu who was on a visit to Chhattisgarh that owing to its location in the heart of the country, Chhattisgarh State can be developed as 'logistics Hub of India'.
The Consulate General then had assured that China will encourage its industrialists to extend support in development of Chhattisgarh as ‘logistics Hub’ of India.
The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) has plans of developing a ‘Transport Hub’ spread over an area of 161.9 hectares in the new capital city.
Chhattisgarh intends to offer renewable energy equipment market for solar photo voltaic equipment worth Rs32,000 crores during the next five years to investors who decide to establish projects in the State, officials stated.
The Government is promising abundant and easy access to raw materials that go into equipment manufacturing for renewable energy sector.
Notably, a host of key Chinese companies from Zhengzhou city of Henan province in China signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) worth 945 million USD (approx. Rs6,600 Crore) for setting up a wide set of industrial projects in Chhattisgarh during Chief Minister Raman Singh’s week-long tour to China this year.
As per the MoUs, Chinese companies will primarily invest in manufacturing of solar power equipment, railway and building construction material sectors in Chhattisgarh.
The Zhongli Talesun Solar Company limited will invest about 500 million USD in cable manufacturing, real estate and renewable energy sector.
This MoU will help in developing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of solar cell and solar panel in Chhattisgarh.
likewise, M/s Chongqing Changzheng Heavy Industry Co. ltd. has also inked MoU worth 20 million USD for developing Station Wagon industry in Chhattisgarh.