MP govt focusing on promoting drug, bio-tech sector: Minister

Bhopal, Jan 21 (PTI) Having announced the state''sindustrial policy in November, Madhya Pradesh government isnow focusing on developing the infrastructure required,especially for setting up drug, herbal and bio-technologyindustries in the state.

"The State Government has already unveiled its newIndustrial Promotion Policy-2010 with an objective to ensurefaster economic development and employment generation bysustainable use of resources available in the state," MadhyaPradesh Industry Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya told PTI.

"We have focused on developing drug (chemical andherbal), and bio-technology in the state," he said.

For promoting the drug sector, especially herbal, the newpolicy focuses on creating an integrated infrastructure in theareas having good prospects for development of herbal andayurvedic products based industries.

"Herbal parks and demonstration centres would also bedeveloped in these areas for the promotion of suchindustries," the Minister said.

Referring to the bio-technology sector, he said under thenew policy, several concessions in addition to those given tonormal industries would be given.

Additional facilities include 50 per cent concession inland premium to be provided to the units employing over 500persons on regular basis.

On the issue of MOUs worth over Rs 2.5 lakh crore inkedduring last year''s Khajuraho summit, he said that a committeeheaded by chief secretary is continuously evaluating theirprogress. .

Vijaywargiya said four companies inked MOUs worth Rs 661 crore in the areas of industrial infrastructure development,setting up rolling mill, fertiliser unit and corrugated boxesyesterday.

For promoting food-processing industries, the governmenthas decided to set up local natural resources-based industriesin specific areas like Malwa-Nimar region, the Minister said.

The government has also decided to develop land bank forsetting up industries in the state.

"Land banks will be established in view of the futurerequirement of land for industries so that existing industrialareas are expanded as needed and new industrial areasdeveloped with necessary infrastructure," he said.

On the issue of shortage of power in the state, theMinister said that in order to emerge as a major power hub inthe country, the state government has inked several MOUs togenerate 58,000 MW of power in next few years.

Besides this, the state is also going to benefitimmensely with the ongoing work on developing Delhi-Mumbai-Industrial-Corridor (DMIC) under which four investment regionsare coming up in the state.

These investment regions include Pithampur-Dhar-MhowInvestment Region and Ratlam-Nagda Investment Region bothcovering an area of over 200 sq km while Shajapur-DewasIndustrial Area and Neemuch-Nayagao Investment area, bothcovering an area of 100 sq km will also ensure economicdevelopment of the state in a big way, he added.