Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) President Amar Parwani said that state government’s aim to turn districts into specialized hubs of a particular product will boost production and exports.
Speaking to The Pioneer in Raipur, he said the Indian government was planning a scheme along these lines, which will prove to be extremely beneficial if implemented.
“Districts need to have their own Unique Selling Points (USP) and administrations need to offer sufficient benefits for a given product, for districts to become specialized hubs,” he said.
“Chhattisgarh is a truly blessed state. It has potential for all-around development.
“Developing the agriculture sector is the top priority of every state, but here it is most prevalent. Here, the government gives the highest minimum support price on paddy and other goods.
“With the right transport and storage infrastructure, Chhattisgarh can potentially produce perishable goods in surplus, enabling exporting these goods in the near future.”
He praised the provisions made in the 2024–25 budget for the tourism and IT sectors, stating this will boost development.
He also gave information about the provisions CCCI has petitioned the government to include in the coming Chhattisgarh Industrial Policy 2024–29.
Encourage Pollution-Free Industries: To encourage this, a 10 percent additional subsidy needs to be given for the establishment of pollution-free industries.
Cold Storage: Chhattisgarh produces vegetables in abundance, but it lacks proper storage facilities. Cold storage will ensure proper utilization of perishable goods as well as provide employment.
Increase Solar Subsidy: Increase solar subsidies to encourage more and more industries as well as households to use solar energy.
One State One License: Introduce the concept of one state, one license in the state. The present procedure of needing to visit different government offices to register enterprises is long and difficult. Simplifying this will speed up the process of establishing enterprises.
Agriculture-based industries: Agriculture is the backbone of the state’s economy. A large portion of the population resides in rural regions and depends on agriculture for livelihood. It has become crucial to put pressure on industrializing the agriculture sector for the upliftment of farmers.
Food Parks: Establishing food parks in every district will act as a medium to bring farmers’ products to the mainstream markets.
Power concessions for MSME: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises generate the highest amount of employment. They should be provided electricity at cheaper rates to encourage more MSME enterprises.
Additional subsidies for industries employing regional population: Additional subsidies should be given to industries whose 70 percent or more workforce consists of locals.
