NE seeks special package for industries

Aizawl, Sep 22 (UNI) The Industry Ministers of all North Eastern states have called for a special package for the existing industrial policy to lure investors back into the region.

Talking to UNI here today, Mizoram Industries secretary Yogaraja said a delegation of the Forum for Minister In-charge for Commerce and Industry of the North Eastern region met the Prime Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday.

The Forum, which had turned down the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, has been assured by Mr Nath that the CoS would be asked to rework the new industrial policy. It was also conveyed that the Centre might appoint an inter-ministerial group to look into the issues raised by the Ministers.

Mr Yogaraja said that they had asked for a special package with certain identified thrust sectors like, power, IT, tourism, health among others.

The Prime Minister also reportedly told the delegation that the Centre was already working towards development of the road network in the North-East and the problems faced by the industries would be looked into.

The advantages of the NEIP announced in 1997 have been lost after similar packages were announced for Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Jammu and Kashmir and now Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. While North-East managed investments of only Rs 1200 crore since 1999, states like HP and Uttranchal wooed investments worth Rs 7,025 crore and Rs 8,800 crore, respectively in the last three years.

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