Chief Minister Raman Singh’s upcoming visit to China is set to open doors for substantial Chinese investment in the industrial and infrastructure sectors of Chhattisgarh.
The dates of Chief Minister’s visit to China are yet to be officially announced, officials stated.
The visit would also pave the way for inviting Chinese investors to set up units particularly in the domain of Electronic Manufacturing and Solar Energy sectors, official sources informed.
The visit of the Chief Minister would assume significance at a time when a host of industrial infrastructure projects in Chhattisgarh had received the Central Government’s green signal and the key among them is the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Naya Raipur.
The Chief Minister and his core team of officials who would be visiting China are likely to meet a host of Chinese investors and sign MoUs while look mutual area of co-operation in other sectors.
The Chinese investors have already evinced interest in making investments in a set of sectors in Chhattisgarh.
It may be recalled that the Central Government has accorded ‘final approval’ to the proposed Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Chhattisgarh’s new capital — Naya Raipur.
The Greenfield EMC in Chhattisgarh was accorded ‘in-principle’ approval as on September 21, 2015.
The location of the EMC is at Tuta village in Sector-22 of Naya Raipur. The chief promoter of the project is Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) and the project is to be established in an area measuring 70 acres.
Notably, on December 20 last year, the Chhattisgarh Government had informed in an official statement that the Central Government has consented to provide its final approval to the EMC.
An assurance in this regard was given by Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh during a meeting in New Delhi on December 20.
Providing details on the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ during the meeting, Chief Minister Raman Singh had told the Union Minister, as per the official statement, that as many as 11 companies have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the tune of around `968 crore for setting up projects in the cluster.
The Chhattisgarh Government has completed requisite preparation for development of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ and work in this regard is going to start immediately after receiving final approval from the Centre, it had mentioned.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government will also be setting up an IT SEZ in the vicinity of the EMC to be established at Sector 22 in Naya Raipur.
Notably, Central Government has approved projects worth `99 crore for upgradation of key industrial infrastructure in Chhattisgarh.
Currently infrastructure of Urla Industrial Area in Raipur and Sirgitti Industrial Area in Biilaspur are being upgraded which includes improvement of roads, water and power supply facilities, officials stated.
The Centre has approved an estimated `54.81 crore for upgradation of infrastructure facilities at Urla Industrial Area and around `44.60 crore for Sirgitti Industrial Area.
Notably, the Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers has also accorded ‘in principle’ approval to the proposed Plastic Park project in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
The proposed Plastic Park will be established by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) as a partner. Around 50 units to be set up in this park, officials stated.
The Chhattisgarh Government would hold a mandatory 26 per cent equity in the SPV.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government sent a proposal to the Central government for setting up a Plastic Park on July 7, 2015. Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government in a bid to provide a major boost to industrial development is now planning to establish many more industrial areas and industrial parks in the State.
Significantly, the Industrial Growth Centre at Urla near Raipur is set to emerge as one of the key industrial zones having world-class infrastructure in the country.
The Centre has already accorded final approval for upgradation of infrastructure at Industrial Growth Centre, Urla in Raipur district at a total project cost of `54.81 crore .
The Central Government’s grant approved for the project is `12.26 crore, officials stated.
The upgradation of the infrastructure is being done under Central Government’s ‘Modified Industrial Infrastructure Scheme (MIIUS).
As many as 11 projects in the country have been accorded final approval with central assistance of `283.23 crore.
Notably, CSIDC has also identified Industrial Growth Centre at Siltara near Raipur to be developed as a ‘ Steel Cluster’ under Centre’s ‘Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme’ (IIUS), officials stated.
The administrative approval of `54.10 crore had been received from the Central Government for the scheme.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)— Chhattisgarh Ispat Bhumi ltd., Raipur (CIBl) has been formed under Public-Private Partnership for implementation of the project. The project would be developed by CSIDC.
The objective of the IIUS is to enhance international competitiveness of the domestic industry by providing quality infrastructure through public-private partnership approach in selected functional clusters/locations which have greater potential to become globally competitive.
The CSIDC has also created an Amenities zone in Industrial Area Siltara, Phase-I.
The construction of building is completed and the complex has shops, office spaces, ATM kiosk, restaurant etc. Allotment of spaces for shops and offices are being done. Nearly 60% of 120 spaces have been allotted so far, officials stated.
The complex is situated adjacent to NH-6 (Ring Road 1), this complex is developed on a piece of land measuring 1600 sqmt. Total built up area of the complex is an estimated 3000 sqm.
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Government is also mulling over plans to establish a mega industrial zone at an estimated cost of `177 crore near Raipur.
The industrial zone would be spread over 1730 hectares of land, official stated.
The industrial zone would be established for setting up of steel plants, power plants, captive power plants and other core industries.The zone would also be developed by CSIDC.
With a view to accelerating industrial development in Chhattisgarh, the State Government will be setting up an Engineering Park in every district in a sequential manner, Chief Minister Raman Singh had stated in November last year.
Dedicating a newly-developed Engineering Park in Hathkhoj industrial area situated near the Steel City Bhilai, Singh said Bhilai is famous across the country and abroad as ‘mini India’ and the newly set up Engineering Park is going to play a remarkable role in boosting-up industrial development.
He said that numerous industrial projects are to be established in the Engineering Park which is going to open employment opportunities for local populace.
Aiming to create employment opportunities for people here, the State Government is making several efforts for industrial development which resulted in building of an optimistic environment for investment in sectors like Information Technology, electronic equipment, solar energy and Agri-based industries.