Industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) would push for manufacturing-sector policies in southern states that simplify clearances and approval mechanisms, encourage green manufacturing, fast-track infrastructure besides enabling flexible labour rules without diluted social security, according to S Gopalakrishnan, chairman, CII Southern Region.
He said every additional one per cent growth in manufacturing creates 20-30 million new jobs.
Speaking to reporters on CII-SR’s new initiatives, Gopalakrishnan said for the current fiscal, the chamber's theme for southern region would be ‘Economic Wellbeing for All: An Agenda for Business’.
He cited figures that indicated the four southern states' real GDP to have risen at 9.2 per cent per annum during 2005-09 outpacing national average of 8.5 per cent in the same period.
He said infrastructure development would be a focus area for CII this year, with plans to identify key infrastructure projects in the region for fast-track implementation.
CII would take up with the respective state governments the need for a policy framework for speedy implementation of infrastructure projects, technology upgradation for faster project completion, setting up an effective dispute settlement mechanism and provisions for contingency funding.
In power sector, CII would work with the state governments for reforms to create more scope for private-sector participation, especially in generation and distribution, power purchases from captive power plants and a policy to benchmark tariff across the country for uniformity.
