To create four new industrial areas in view of investors’ interest in the state.
Madhya Pradesh has got a commitment of investment from a third company based in China, prompting the state to create four industrial areas and accord a red-carpet welcome to the East Asian country’s firms that would offer 100 per cent jobs to locals. The government, though, has refused to offer these entities facilities on par with what they get in their homeland, according to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday.
The CM was talking to reporters after his ten-day visit to China, where he participated in the World Economic Forum as an Indian representative.
China’s Jiang Sing Corrugated Machinery Limited has decided to invest Rs 50 crore in Pithampur near Indore. A delegation of the firm will soon visit the site. The state had, a few years ago, found investment coming from two other firms — Xiang Electricals in Mandideep (near Bhopal) and Liugong.
Chouhan on Thursday said the government would develop four new industrial areas in view of Chinese investors’ interest in Madhya Pradesh. “I have had discussions with Jiang Sing officials. They will visit us in a day or two to sign a deal with us. I welcome all firms that will offer cent per cent jobs to local people”
The CM said he was impressed with the Chinese single-window clearance system. “I had mooted a similar effort a few years ago in Madhya Pradesh. For its implementation, I need Central support since coal, mines and — more importantly — visa issues do not fall under the state’s ambit, he said.
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The government would soon create four more industrial areas in Rajgarh, Obedullaganj, some location at Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and on Bhopal-Indore state industrial corridor to “attract investment from China”, he added.
A government official, who was part of the delegation, said the CM has already committed land to the company. “They will also be offered similar benefits in accordance with the industry policy,” he told Business Standard. Jiang will manufacture machines for corrugated box manufacturing unit. Xiang manufactures silicon electrodes, while Liugong manufactures earthmoving equipment.
Chouhan said it was also possible that a few more Dalian-based IT companies would investment in Madhya Pradesh. “We will be in discussion with them. It is, though, next to impossible for us to offer free land, power and cheap labour which they get in China.”
The CM also said he held discussions with the officials of Tianjin Lichen Battery Joint Stock Ltd, Tianjin Saixiang Technology Co Ltd and Union Stem cell & Gene Engineering Co Ltd, to understand how Chinese firms were cost-effective and competing with other MNCs in the manufacturing sector.