M A I N   N E W S

North can yield good returns, says Montek 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 3
Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said most northern states had shown growth rate higher than the national average of around 8 per cent in the past five years.

He added that the North had the potential to give good returns and further attract investments. The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), which will be ready by 2017, will further bolster the North’s attractiveness as a favourable investment destination.

He was addressing the “Invest North-2012” conclave, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Northern Region, at Gurgaon to showcase and promote investment opportunities in the northern states.

“There is a need to put in place, sound and attractive business models under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode to leverage the true potential of North. Historically, infrastructure has been developed through public investments, but now our strategy should be to explore PPPs wherever possible,” he added.

He further pointed out that “India is looking at a pro-FDI policy with level playing field for both domestic and international investors. States attracting more investments from home and abroad send a positive signal to domestic investors and enhance their image as an attractive investment destination.”

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal advised the Centre to change archaic laws and bring transparency in the working of economic ministries to come out of the economic slowdown.

Badal said the Punjab Government, realising the same problem, had set up Governance Reforms Commission and on its advise had brought in changes in the state laws besides ensuring transparency in the decision-making process.

“Punjab is the only state in the country where all mega power projects are well on track of being commissioned by the end of 2013, making it a power-surplus state. We may even consider exporting power to Pakistan and earn money,” he added.

A CII KPMG report, “Scaling Northern Heights”, was also released by Ahluwalia and Badal.

Badal expressed shock over the Union government’s decision not to increase the MSP of wheat.

In his address, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the state government was taking steps to create a sizeable pool of technical and skilled manpower. He called upon the CII to help identify the areas for skill-development initiatives and devise the curriculum for creating the desired skill-set.

He assured support to the industrialists investing in his state. Hooda claimed that the Industrial and Investment Policy-2011 facilitated promotion of investment in the state. “Rules and procedures have been simplified and time period fixed for clearances so as to improve efficiency and transparency,” he said.

Invest North-2012 Conclave

Sukbhir’s take

Centre must change archaic laws and bring transparency in the working of economic ministries

Punjab working on developing infrastructure in 142 towns under PPP

All mega power projects to be commissioned by end of 2013

Hooda’s pitch

Taking steps to create a sizeable pool of technical and skilled manpower

CII must help identify areas for skill-development initiatives and devise curriculum

Rules simplified under Industrial and Investment Policy-2011