Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur  said the government is committed to make Himachal Pradesh the Most Favoured State of the country for investment by providing the best possible facilities to the entrepreneurs to ensure Ease of Doing Business. 

Addressing the annual conference, Regaining the Growth Momentum of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Shimla Chief Minister said that the industry and industrialists played a highly commendable and appreciable role during the Covid pandemic. He also said that the entrepreneurs not only ensured that they overcome the difficult times, but also made their contribution to provide relief to the needy.

He said that the State Government has several plans to attract investments in the State, but the pandemic adversely affected the whole plan. He said that despite all odds the State succeeded in performing two ground breaking function in the State. He added that the State also succeeded in improving its ranking in Ease of Doing Business.

Jai Ram Thakur said that most the business related processes are being processed online. He said that in the present era of liberalization, it was endeavour of the State Government that there was minimal interference in the business. 

Jai Ram Thakur also said that the State Government has succeeded in getting approval of  setting up of Medical Device Park to be built at a cost of Rs. 261 crore on 265 acres of land in Nalagarh area of Solan district.  He said that this would ensure investment of about Rs. 4000 to 5000 crores and turnover of about Rs. 20,000 crores which would generate employment opportunities to an estimated 10,000 people of the State.

Chief Minister said that the State Government has actively bid under the Bulk Drug Park Scheme of the Government of India and have sent a project report of  Rs. 1190 crore for setting up of this park on 1405 acres of land in Una district. He said with the investment of about Rs. 8000 crores would ensure a turnover of Rs. 50,000 crore. He added that this Park would also provide direct employment to about 15,000 youth of the State.  

Jai Ram Thakur emphasised that the State Government was also actively taking up the issue of rail connectivity to industrial areas. He said that new Industrial area would be established in Parwanoo on 180 bigha land and additional 200 bigha land would be identified soon.

 Chief Minister said that CII was a prestigious organization of the country which gives an impetus to the industrial development in the State. He added that outcome of this annual conference, Regaining the Growth Momentum would go a long way in keeping with the spirit of the theme of this conference.

Industries Minister, Bikram Singh thanked the CII for effectively acting as a bridge between the State Government and the Industry to promote and encourage industries in the State. He said that it was due to the active cooperation between the State Government and captains of the industry that the State Government has succeeded in holding ground breaking of projects worth about Rs. 41,000 crore despite the Covid pandemic. He also thanked the entrepreneurs for their active role in development of the State.

Chairman CII Northern Region Abhimanyu Munjal also spoke on the occasion. Outgoing Chairman CII, Mr Shailesh Aggarwal while welcoming the Chief Minister urged the State Government to consider setting up of Greater Parwanoo Industrial Development Authority and Kala Amb-Paonta Sahib Development Authority.

He also felt the need for making industrial areas liveable by providing social infrastructure. He said that this would be a milestone decision for developing these two industrial areas and would help in making these industrial areas World-class State of Art industrial townships of the State. Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Industries R.D. Dhiman and Rakesh Prajapati,  Director industries were also present on the occasion

CII New Body: 

Mr Subodh Gupta and Mr Gagan Kapoor were elected as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of CII Himachal Pradesh State Council respectively, for the year 2022-23. Subodh Gupta, is the Chairman and Managing Director of Microtek Group, having global footprints in Power solutions and Healthcare field and Gagan Kapoor is the Proprietor of Pulkit Industries, dealing in the Packaging and Food processing Sector. Previously, he has led the Himachal Pradesh corrugated Manufacturing Association for five years.