PM to inaugurate northern states CMs' conclave

Chandigarh, Sep 22: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the Northern States Chief Ministers' Conclave here on September 28 where the agenda includes removal of inter-state barriers.

Three thrust areas- water and power, e-Governance and movement of goods -have been identified for the conclave, being organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the chamber's chairperson Ms Sushma Berlia said at a press conference here, while confirming that the PM would grace the occasion.

The Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Madhya Pradesh and the Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh have been invited to the event.

''There is no common programme between these states,'' she said, pointing out certain major issues concerning the industry.

If the trade barriers were removed between these ten states, the collective State Domestic Product in the north would increase by 1.5 per cent to two per cent, she said.

A study conducted under the PHDCCI's 'North India Common Econmomy' (NICE) initiative has become the basis of a common economic agenda for the states in the north, she said.

Responding to questions, Ms Berlia said that unemployment and the sick education and health sectors also needed to be addressed if the states wanted their industrial and trade sectors to flourish.

However, the servioces sector had so far able to absorb the unemployed youth to an extent, she added.

UNI