Eyeing better incentives, bizmen consider turning to Rajasthan
The Rajasthan Government is hosting the Rajasthan Rising Summit, on the lines of Vibrant Gujarat, from December 9 to 11, in which investors from across the country and abroad are expected to participate. The government is reportedly working tirelessly to ensure it is successful, roping in financiers from the UK, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Germany. Rajasthan Government has also directed the Collectorate and Industry Department of each district to contact industrial organisations from other states.
The Industry Department of Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district is in constant touch with industrial organisations in Punjab, inviting them to visit Sriganganagar.
Badish Jindal, president of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations, said the Rajasthan Industry Department had added industrialists from Punjab to its WhatsApp groups. “Rajasthan’s investment policy includes no electricity duty, no land registration fees and a 75 per cent return on investment. They also provide a goods subsidy of Rs 20,000 per container for exports. Over the last three years, Rajasthan has received investments amounting to Rs 5.44 lakh crore, and the government is aiming to take this to Rs 10 lakh crore during the summit. They have also sent a list of vacant industrial plots in the state to industrialists here, with prices ranging from Rs 450 to Rs 3,200 per sq yard. They are focusing on the auto, agriculture, textile and chemical industries,” Jindal said, adding that with so many incentives, the industry in Punjab would undoubtedly consider expanding in Rajasthan.
Some industrialists said despite lofty claims, corruption was at its highest in the state government departments. “Businesspeople have been rendered slaves of bureaucracy. The government provides electricity to existing businesses at high rates. We are not benefitting from the state’s industrial policy. Existing industries receive electricity at a rate of Rs 8 to Rs 10 per unit,” Jindal said.
