A delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) along with other industrialists will present its wish-list to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at a high-level consultation slated for Tuesday at Vijayawada.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of recommendations that CII had made for promoting Andhra Pradesh as a global destination for investments among prospective entrepreneurs. Leveraging advantages offered by the Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor through convergence of industrial, urban and social infrastructure formed the thrust of the CII’s recommendations.
While seeking the Government initiative to facilitate establishment of industries, the CII wanted due emphasis be laid on employment generation, lest the growth should end up as a non-inclusive one. The single-window policy of the Government is sought to be made an effective instrument with a provision for deemed clearances to prevent inordinate delays in implementing the projects.
Allotment of land is another important area on the Government’s priority list. Industrialists are asking land to be given on lease on the ground that it was a viable option compared to purchasing the land at exorbitant prices.
Setting up an anchor industry, development of seaports, expanding domestic airport at Gannavaram into a larger facility, promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with focus on food processing units and automobile sector and upgrading Railways with connectivity to ports are to be given priority.
Allowing purchase of electricity from independent power producers on liberal terms, incentives like part reimbursement of Central sales tax and value-added tax are a few other things that the industrial sector is seeking to be able to give an impetus to the economy which is saddled with a huge deficit post-bifurcation.
The Chief Minister is expected to get necessary changes incorporated in the industrial policy after discussing the issues threadbare in Tuesday’s meeting in which the visiting Singapore team is also expected to take part, according to the informed sources.
