Business Baatein with EBIA, Bhagalpur

Business Standard Smart Business

Bihar government would help entrepreneurs in preparing the detailed project reports (DPRs) to set up industrial units. The Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) would also help to promote food processing units in and around Bhagalpur.

The Industries Department is also planning to hold a discussion with the banks, trade bodies and entrepreneurs to mitigate their problems. “We are trying very hard to promote industrial activities in and around Bhagalpur. However, there are some problems with the banks. Most of the time, entrepreneurs are being denied bank finance and problems with the DPRs AR being cited as reasons. Therefore, we can all sit together work out the problem," District Industrial Center General Manager, Nirmal Kumar Jha told at the Smart Business Event in Bhagalpur. The event was organised jointly by the Business Standard and the Eastern Bihar Industries Association (EBIA) in the Eastern City of Bihar.

Jha also pointed out the fact that the state government has appointed four project management agencies to aide especially the entrepreneurs in the food processing industry. "For food processing units, the agencies can provide support in making DPRs to the entrepreneurs. They should come forward and avail the benefits," he added.

The EBIA has also announced that any entrepreneur can get their DPRs made at a small sum of Rs. 5,000. “There is a vast potential for food processing industries in the Eastern Bihar, especially in and around Bhagalpur. We have all the resources. The zeal of entrepreneurship should be ignited and government should also extend all support to budding units," said EBIA President CA Pradeep Kumar Jhunjhunwala.

At the event, senior officials of the BAU also gave a detailed presentation about the aspects of the food processing industry in Bihar. “We are currently working to make two dreams a reality. First is the dream of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to get at least one Bihari food item in every Indians platter and the other is to double farmers’ income. Both can't be achieved without the support of food processing units. Therefore, we have set up a unit within the university to train and support entrepreneurs in this sector," Director (Outreach) Dr RK Shone told the event.

The event was also addressed by Guru Govind Shukla, who is a faculty at the UCO Bank R-SETI. He put emphasis on the backward and forward linkages and proper documentation to get bank finance.