MoUs signed with ITC, Mahindra Holidays at Curtain Raiser for Global Investors’ Summit
By Our Staff Reporter
New Delhi, 14 Sep: At the curtain raiser for Global Investors’ Summit held here, today, ITC proposed an investment of Rs 5000 crores to the Uttarakhand Government. In addition, MoUs for investment of more than Rs 1000 crores were also signed with Mahindra Holidays and Resort India Limited, while another MoU for investment of Rs 1600 crores was signed with e-Kuber.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated that the government has targeted investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crores at the upcoming global investors’ summit.
As per the MoU signed with the state government, Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Limited has promised to set up 45 resorts at different places in Uttarakhand over the next three months with an investment of Rs 1000 crores. This, the company claims, will open employment opportunities for 1500 people. This is the largest investment by Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited in any state in the entire country.
The Curtain Raiser was organised at Hotel Taj Mahal in New Delhi regarding the upcoming Global Investors’ Summit to be held in Uttarakhand in December. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the programme as the Chief Guest. He claimed that Uttarakhand is fast emerging as a young state where there are immense opportunities for industries. Along with ease of doing business, there is also peace of doing business in the state. There are almost no incidents of labour unrest in the industries operating in the state.
Dhami asserted that the government is working with the vision of creating an easy business environment along with world-class infrastructure in Uttarakhand. Along with implementing special policies, attractive financial incentives have been arranged to promote investment in various sectors. These mainly include the Tourism Policy-2023, MSME Policy-2023, Startup Policy-2023, Logistics Policy-2023, and for establishing of private industrial estates. Dhami said that the government is determined to develop Uttarakhand as the fastest growing economy in the country. To strengthen the economy of the state, a Strong Uttarakhand Mission has been launched, under which a target has been set to double the SGDP of the state over a period of the next 5 years.
The Uttarakhand Global Investors’ Summit-2023 is being organised by the state as a link to achieve this goal. He said that more than 1200 laws have been identified in the state that are out of date and are being repealed through the Single Repeal Act. He said that, at present, a land bank of about 6000 acres is available in Uttarakhand for setting up industries in various sectors. There has been continuous improvement in rail, road and air connectivity. Direct air services have become available from Dehradun Airport to various cities. Dehradun and Pantnagar airports are also being expanded. As part of the development and upgradation of the railway network, the construction work on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line is in progress. To facilitate the Char Dham Yatra in the state, construction work on a all-weather road is also in progress.
The Chief Minister said that the entrepreneurs of the state are its brand ambassadors and they have the maximum participation in increasing investment. He said that effective steps have been taken towards establishment of an Aroma Park in Kashipur, Plastic Park in Sitarganj, Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Kashipur, and the Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor.
Dhami added that Uttarakhand has achieved the GI tag in 9 products of the state. He said that Uttarakhand state is included in the achievers category (8th position) in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranking of the Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade for the year 2022. In the Export Readiness Index for 2022 released by NITI Aayog, Uttarakhand state is in first place among the Himalayan states, and 9th place in the entire country. The CM said that, for investment promotion in the state, a dedicated Investor Facilitation Cell has been established at the Industries Directorate level, which is providing dedicated handholding support as a ‘one stop shop’ for investors/businessmen.
Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu said that Uttarakhand is a better destination for entrepreneurs to invest. Being close to Delhi NCR, this distance will soon be covered in two and a half hours due to the development of better road facilities. Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said that the policy has been prepared after studying the policies related to industry and investment in different states of the country.
The government will also hold international road shows in London, Singapore and Taiwan.
