Gujarat industry hails Budget 2017

Industry in Gujarat today hailed the Union Budget 2017-18 and the announcement to set up an AIIMS in the state.

"The Budget has sent a positive signal to especially those whose earning is upto Rs 5 lakh, as they will have to pay less income tax. Service tax has not been increased and rather the government has decided to wait till GST, which is also a right decision," said Bipin Patel, president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Manpasand Beverages Ltd director Abhishek Singh said the proposal to integrate farmers who grow fruits and vegetables with agro processing units is a welcome move.
 

"It is also encouraging to see that the government has announced provision for end-to-end integrated transport solutions for select commodities such as agricultural products," he said.

Hester Biosciences Ltd CEO and MD Rajiv Gandhi said the Budget's focus on giving relief to small taxpayers and women empowerment are initiatives in the right direction.

"Giving relief to smaller businesses and taxpayer was much needed. Initiatives on women empowerment, rural electrification, housing for all, more roads for villages and focus on employment generation will definitely strengthen the rural economy," he said.

Vadilal Industries CMD Rajesh Gandhi said the decision to set up a Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund in NABARD with corpus of Rs 8000 crore will support the dairy industry and even the farmers.

"Reduction in income tax rate for the majority of tax payers is expected to considerably increase the spending power of a vast majority of consumers in urban and rural areas," he added.

Industry body ASSOCHAM said setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gujarat will perk up healthcare scenario by creating a large pool of doctors and providing super-speciality health facilities at primary, secondary and tertiary levels at affordable rates in the state.

"Once established, the new AIIMS will also spur research initiatives on diseases and prevalent health issues, thereby providing for better control and cure of the same," D S Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM, said.