China has 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 had suggested Consul General of People’s Republic of China MA Zhanwu currently 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 assured that China will encourage its industrialists to extend support in development of Chhattisgarh as ‘logistics Hub’ of India.
The Chinese Consul General along with a three-member delegation had paid courtesy call on Commerce and Industry Minister Amar Agrawal on Thursday at his office in his residence.
The Minister discussed with delegates about the scope of Chinese investment in Chhattisgarh.
Agrawal informed the delegates in detail about the facilities provided to investors for promoting industrial investment in Chhattisgarh.
The Minister informed them about the scope for setting up projects on Electronics Assembly, solar chip and wafer manufacturing etc.
The Consulate General said that next month, a team of investors related to aforementioned fields will be sent to Chhattisgarh, who will study various aspects of industry and commerce here.
The Consul General also sought support from Chhattisgarh Government for starting direct air service between China and Chhattisgarh.
Agrawal assured them of coordinating with Central Government and extending every possible support in the direction.
In the meeting, the Minister also discussed about positive impacts of Goods and Service Tax (GST) on India's economy and investment. Consulate General also invited Agrawal to visit China.
Agrawal accepted the invitation while saying that soon he would be visiting China with a team of industrialists from the State. The delegation praised State Government for creating a favourable environment in Chhattisgarh for industrial development.
Incidentally, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had also put forward a proposal that a ‘Cargo Hub’ should be developed in Naya Raipur last year.
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, 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.
Notably, on August 10, 2014, Chhattisgarh took its first step forward under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feverish ‘Make In India’ campaign with a Chinese firm agreeing to establish a `100 crore manufacturing-cum- assembling unit for PC components, tablets and smart phones near Raipur.
A MoU was signed between Chhattisgarh InfoTech and Biotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) and Chinese firm M/s Forstar Industry ltd in the presence of Chief Minister Raman Singh in Raipur.
As per the MoU, the Chinese company decided to set up a project at Urkura Industrial Area near Raipur to manufacture PC components, smart phones and laptops.
By signing the MoU, the Chinese firm had agreed to invest an estimated `100 crore on the project.
In a year's time, the plant would employ around 200 persons. At full scale, direct and ancillary units employment would be created for more than 1,000 persons. This industry has the potential to grow further in terms of employment opportunities also with the increase in manufacturing capacity, the officials had stated during the signing of MoU.
Indirect employment for more than a thousand people would also be created in area of software development, training, distribution channels/network, soft content making, maintenance and service support etc would also be created.
Officials of the company had informed at that time that it would also offer skill improvement training to youth of Chhattisgarh in IT sector. Initially, the company has planned to manufacture 75,000 units of gadgets per month. later the manufacturing capacity would be increased to 1 million units per year.