1400 investors participate in Investors Meet at New Delhi

1400 investors participate in Investors Meet at New Delhi

            Leading industrial houses give proposals to invest in H.P.

            Vijyender Sharma

SHIMLA--Proposals for setting up  industrial units to manufacture  products across a wide spectrum of industries were discussed in length during the second phase of 'Emerging Himachal-Investors Meet' presided over by the Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh along-with Industries Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri at New Delhi today. 

            After the success of the first phase of investors meet in metropolitan cities of Bangluru, Mumbai and Gujarat, which added to an investment of Rs 48 hundred crore, the second phase of 'Emerging Himachal- Investors Meet in  New Delhi is held with a motive to woo entrepreneurs from Delhi NCR with face to face and carrying out  one-to-one meet with leading industrial houses and ensuring ease of business to them.

            Government of Himachal Pradesh and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) jointly organized 'Emerging Himachal-Investors Meet' to promote Himachal Pradesh as preferred investment destination.

            Various proposals were received and consensus reached upon many in investors meet where around 1400 investors participated.

            In one-to-one interaction meet, a proposal was submitted by Australia based Himachali doctor couple from Palampur(Sulah), who wants to set up a Hospital and a Medical School and to promote medical tourism with Trauma and Pathologists expertise from  Australia. Dr. Amit Rana, executive Director 'AusHealth Global Pvt Ltd' and his spouse Dr. Abha Rana, a cancer specialist, also proposed for overseas accreditation and of investing more than 100 crores in the project. Running a hospital in Suva in Fiji islands, Dr. Amit is a surgeon. The couple showed keen interest in setting up a Medical School, modern Labs connecting and catering to needs of the patients and urged for more than 35 acres of land in the State.  The Skill development part for training the youth will also be looked after in the medical field, they said. The proposal for setting Mother lab and connect rest of the hospitals and health centres in Himachal Pradesh with the same was also welcomed in the meet.

            As three more industrial areas were coming in Himachal at Kandrori in Kangra, Solan and Pandoga which could be ideally used for setting up of a group of industries engaged in production of defence related equipments, a proposal was received from 'Eirene Systems' to set up defence industry manufacturing unit in the State with an investment of around 1.5 billion US Dollars. Defence equipments including aeronautical equipments which is being procured from abroad can be manufactured in such clusters with foreign collaboration and the technical expertise.

            Surya Ushma Private limited in collaboration with South Africa group proposed to invest in Solar Energy of around 100 MW initially in the State in  Spiti valley and also placed their proposal and evinced keen interest in manufacturing of Solar Panels. The government was keen to invest in clean solar energy system provided its evacuation is worked out. However, the company showed keen interest to invest in Lahaul and Spiti and it could be a good business, said the Chief Minister. The possibilities are likely to be explored by HPSEBltd and HIMURJA along-with representatives of the Surya Ushma Private limited.

            The proposal to invest approximately Rs 1000 crore, for setting up portable self-service fuel filling stations (petrol pumps), a new world-wide patented technology by Alinz (India), in collaboration with Czech Republic, was widely discussed, at New Delhi today. The proposal was to set up these petrol pumps mainly in agricultural and rural areas, flood hit areas to cater to needs of rescue teams,  tourist circuits etc with intake capacity of 35,000 litres each having inbuilt power backup and can be installed in just two hours. They were asked to submit the proposal as soon as possible and conduct survey as per their needs and the government will come forward for the assistance and welcomed the proposal, said the Chief Minister. 

            Sh. Krish Iyer CEO   Wallmart India extended proposal to open as many as five Wallmart Retail stores with an investment of 10 million US dollars generating  employment to 2000 persons. They also  want to go  ahead with investment in schemes  for women empowerment, training and education. They requested for land  of around two to three acres somewhere in the suburbs of Shimla,Solan, Mandi, Dharamsala, Kangar or Palampur. The Wallmart has both wholesale and retail stores in nineteen cities of the country at present.

            TATA's came with proposal of expansion of already existing residential housing project in the State and Himalayan Water  Plant. Possibility of expansion of their existing Knowledge Processing Organisations (KPOs) was also discussed along-with setting up of skill based centre of excellence to train local himachali youths in soft skills. The government assured representatives of TATA group of companies of all possible assistance required for setting up new ventures in the State. The Himalayan brand water has made its way to Singapore and United States.The TATA group was also constructing Myst housing project at Kasauli and requested for adequate piece of land to come up with more such projects. 

            Proposal also poured in by Microtek International to invest Rs 400 crore to expand existing units and to add new plants to manufacture solar equipments in a big way and to manufacture solar invertors, solar batteries to harness Solar Energy.

            It was agreed in principle to sign an MoU with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) with Government of Himachal Pradesh for marketing of Himachali products and tourism. A  proposal was also discussed upon to invest additional Rs. 150 crore to bottle and manufacture  Pepsico food and beverages products.  

            A proposal was submitted  to invest Rs 500 crore by Syska LED Lights private limited  in manufacturing of LED lights, wire switches and allied products  which will also provide employment to as many as five to six thousand youth. Their proposal was welcomed by all. Industries Minister asked them to begin their operations in existing ideal  units and the requisite land would be looked thereafter soon.

            The proposal to invest up Rs 100 crore by Greenlam more in expansion of its existing project at Nalagarh for Ply laminate was also considered in the meet. Proposal was also discussed for expansion of Yarn manufacturers 'Indorama group' at Baddi with additional investment of Rs. 300 crore and employment opportunities to more than 300 people. The Chief Minister directed to repair and manage the roads leading to the existing industrial units in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Area (BBNA). It was disclosed that tenders worth Rs 42 crore have been floated for paths, roads, street lights in BBNA and the proposals of the existing units for improving the roads was agreed upon unanimously.

            Proposal also came to expand Sara Textiles limited, the firms making towels of export quality sought additional expansion of Rs 450 crore in the integrated textile plant. This would pave the way to employment of more than 1000 people. Similarly Indorama sought expansion for their existing unit with an additional investment of Rs. 300 crore with employment opportunities to more than 300 people. 

            Proposal were also submitted by Pretty Petals in agro processing and Cold storage, LM group International, in cider, wine and tourism resorts, Apollo group in waste management and healthcare sector, textiles and thanked the Chief Minister for holding such meet in Delhi, which they said will provide an opportunity to the industrialists of Delhi NCR and around to invest in the State.

            Additional Chief Secretaries, Shri V.C.Pharka, Shri Tarun Shridhar, Shri RD Dhiman, Director Tourism, Shri Mohan Chauhan, Commissioner, Labour and Employment, Shri Amit Kashyap, Director Industries, Shri Rajinder  Singh Thakur, Director, Information and Public Relations, Dr. M.P. Sood, Deputy Director, Industries, Advisor Industries, Shri Rajinder Chauhan, Shri Tilak Sharma, CII Chairman Northern Region, Shri Shreekant Somany, Chairman Himachal State Council CII, Shri Rajeev Aggarwal, Vice-Chairman, CII Himachal Shri Sanjay Khurana were also present on the occasion amongst others.

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