Reliance to ink SEZ pact with Haryana today

The Haryana government will tomorrow sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Reliance Industries for the development of a special economic zone (SEZ) in the state.

"The proposed SEZ is expected to be developed at an investment of Rs 25,000 crore," said a senior state government official. The Reliance SEZ would be part of the nine SEZs, for which the Centre has already given its in-principle approval, the official said.

The location of new SEZs would be decided on the basis of the availability of land as well as the strategic preferences of the investors, he said.

The official said chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, during his recent eight-day tour of Japan and South Korea, sought Japanese participation and investment in the development of SEZs, industrial model townships, power, transport logistics and transport hubs in the state.

"The development of SEZs is part of the state government's renewed drive to attract more foreign investments," he said, referring to Hooda's recent foreign tour and plan to tap funds from companies in the US, the UK, France, Russia, Taiwan, Germany and Italy.

New technology parks are also being developed at Panchkula and Manesar, he said.

The state government has also decided to develop three industrial model townships at Faridabad, Kharkhoda and Rohtak, and will try to attract foreign investments for these projects.

"The state government has also been planning to upgrade the existing state and national highways at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore," the official said.

To give a new impetus to the development of world class industrial infrastructure, the state has introduced a single-window clearance system to facilitate entrepreneurs.