AP in panel to push up state-specific industry

New Delhi, Dec 23: The Centre on Wednesday constituted a high- level committee of state industry ministers to develop a roadmap to accelerate investments and help industrial growth in the country following meeting of all industry ministers here last week.The seven-member committee comprises industry ministers from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. Its terms of reference include state-specific investment plans on the basis of each state’s natural resources, minerals and other potentials required for setting up industries.

This was suggested by Punjab Industry Minister Manoranjan Kalia. He suggested investment in agro-based industry in the country’s food bowl and pitched for investments in hydro power to exploit potential of Himachal Pradesh and in mineral industry in Chhattisgarh.The Committee has been asked to design a single window mechanism for simplifying and rationalising the licencing and clearance methods needed to launch or operate industry and business. It has also been asked to draw up State-level skill development plan and guidelines for setting up an industrial land bank sans productive agricultural land, the Industry Ministry said in a statement.

According to Union Industry Minister Anand Sharma, he had suggested forming the panel to thrust manufacturing so as to increase its share in the economy from the present 17 percent to 25 percent by 2015.Sharma also pitched for the panel to achieve an annual Foreign Direct Investment inflow of $50 billion by 2012 and $100 billion by 2017.