A retail policy with its thrust on facilitation measures for companies planning to invest in and opening outlets is being readied by the Telangana government.
The draft is ready and the policy will be launched soon, Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao announced here on Saturday during the signing of a memorandum of understanding MoU between retail major Walmart and the State Government.
The Walmart, which now has a store in Hyderabad, has decided to set up 10 more such cash and carry wholesale facilities in different parts of the State over the next 5 to 7 years. Apart from growing its operations, including enhanced sourcing from the State, the company would be working with small and marginal farmers; provide training and education to all the stakeholders and launch entrepreneurship development programme for women.
Speedy clearances
Noting that Swedish home furnishing company IKEA had decided on Hyderabad to set up its first store in the country and many more retailers were also looking at Telangana, the IT Minister said that the policy would help in setting up operations quickly. The focus will be on providing speedy clearances.
The Walmart, he said, may require to soon rework its expansion plans to set up more stores in the backdrop of the country’s economic growth and some States like Telangana growing at a faster pace. Welcoming the company’s decision to work with small and marginal farmers and extending the State Government’s support, he said that the Chief Minister was in the process of drafting a plan to build model farmers’ organisations at the village, mandal, district and the State level.
Industries Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and President and CEO of Walmart India Krish Iyer exchanged the MoU documents.
President Walmart Asia and Canada Dirk Van den Berghe said the Walmart pursued a policy of investing in the local communities, building stores and training people besides developing suppliers. The focus is on increasing the sourcing from India and thus providing an opportunity to the suppliers to export, he said, adding Walmart was present in 28 countries.
Five stores in Hyderabad
Mr. Iyer said the Walmart would work with kirana shops, mom and pop shops, hotels, restaurants, caterers and institutions in helping them grow their business by selling them quality merchandise at competitive prices. Of the 10 stores, four will come in Hyderabad taking the number of facilities in the city to five.
On the proposed stores in the State, Senior Vice President and Head Corporate Affairs of Walmart India Rajneesh Kumar said properties for two stores in Hyderabad as well as one each in Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizamabad had been finalised.
