Industrial investments can transform the economic landscape of Rajasthan: Vasundhara Raje

Raje is in Mumbai as part of a series of roadshows being held across India and abroad to promote investment opportunities in Rajasthan ahead of the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit, slated to be held in Jaipur on November 19 and 20.

The delegation from the Government of Rajasthan also included the Minister for Public Health & Engineering, Kiran Maheshwari; the Minister for Public Works & Transportation,  Yoonus Khan; and the Commissioner, Department of Industries, Abhay Kumar.

The Chief Minister noted that Rajasthan is one of the country’s fastest growing States saying, “Rajasthan’s position as an emerging market within the Indian Union is undeniable. We want to attract industrial investments which will bring about a transformation in the economic landscape of the State.”

She added, “Rajasthan recognises the role that industry can play in securing sustainable and inclusive development for the State. The Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit will be a global congregation of investors, planned as an affirmation of the State’s aspirations and commitment to a brighter Rajasthan. We have initiated policy reforms, regulatory interventions and investment facilitation measures to enhance the ease of doing business in the State. Rajasthan has already implemented 64 of the 89 measures recommended by the Central Government for enhancement of Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). Another 14 measures will soon be implemented.”

Explaining some of the policy measures taken by her government, Raje said, “While our Single Window system provides for single point online application and interaction for investors, the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2014, provides for attractive financial incentives and subsidies for investors. There is no doubt that the time to invest in Rajasthan is now.”

Last year, the Rajasthan Government pioneered labour reforms in the country to make them more employment-friendly. The government is also planning to hold stakeholder consultations for finalizing its new affordable housing and mining policies.

To give a renewed thrust to the sector, a new tourism policy is also being envisaged to promote the State as a travel destination. 

Abhay Kumar gave a presentation on the advantages of investing in Rajasthan. Referring to the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), he said, “Nearly 40 per cent of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) comes under Rajasthan and 60 percent of our districts are under the influence of the DMIC. Five key DMIC nodes with manufacturing hubs and logistics parks are being developed in the State along with world-class infrastructure and integrated townships.”

He further added, “We are a mineral-rich State with surplus land, having close proximity to major markets in and around the State. In Rajasthan, you find a good mix of leading foreign and domestic companies, large to small enterprises, traditional and sunrise sectors. We are looking to promote automotive engineering, defense sub-systems manufacturing and Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) in the State.”

A modern industrial park is also being developed to promote textiles and technical textiles. The government has also launched an ambitious plan to develop a mega 20,000 km State highway network with connection to district roads on a PPP basis over the next five years. As part of Phase I of the project, feasibility studies of 8,910kms of road has been conducted. This is expected to benefit the cement industry since it will be able to access the extensive limestone deposits in the State.

“The Industry has enthusiastically welcomed the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme 2014 since it has sector-wise provisions. There is a big push for ceramics and electronics in the State. This augurs well for the domestic manufacturing in the country since India is one of the prime importers of electronic items. Special package to backward and most backward areas will motivate industry to invest in these areas further, thereby providing employment to the local people”, said Shreekant Somany, Chairman, CII Northern Region and Chairman & Managing Director, Somany Ceramics Ltd.

Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director, JCB India Ltd.; Arun Nanda, Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.; and, Vinod Pitti, Chairman, SVP Global Corporation shared their experiences of working in Rajasthan.

Sondhi said, “I commend the Chief Minister and her government for what they have achieved in terms of industrial reforms. Industrial areas have 24x7 power, there is complete normalcy in the law and order situation and the State has a good pool of skilled labour.”

Earlier roadshows in Japan, Germany, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ludhiana have been huge successes, and have attracted the interest of a large cross-section of investors from home and abroad.