Bihar govt to set up 'Patna Haat' to encourage SSI units

Patna, Feb 5 (UNI) Taking a cue from the success of 'Delhi Urban Haat,'the Bihar government has decided to set up a similar complex called 'Patna Haat' within the Pataliputra Industrial Area (PIA) here at a cost of Rs 2 crore to encourage small artisans.

State Industries department sources here today said the proposed complex showcasing handicrafts and other items being produced by the small and medium scale industries in Bihar will come up for sale in an about 6,000 square metre area within the PIA by this year with the entire fund coming from the state government.

The government has already sanctioned the amount from its own coffers and was now looking for suitable public-private partnership for its further expansion,the sources said.

Stating that the highly successful running of the Delhi Urban Haat for the past few years near the national capital has 'inspired' the state government to embark on a similar project to ensure better marketing facilities and sales of small and medium scale industrial products of the state. The sources hoped that 'Patna Haat,'when come up will open a new window of opportunity to thousands of small scale entrepreneurs and artisans of Bihar including those working in Madhubani,Champaran,Samastipur and several other districts.

The lack of marketing facilities and display arenas has so far been the main stumbling blocks for the potential growth of SSI units particularly the handicraft industries of Bihar,the sources said and hoped that with the coming up of the 'Patna Haat' within PIA a new ray of hope will come up for those associated with these industries.

Till last year the annual sales turnover of all handicraft industries taken together in the state was to the tune of only Rs five crores in absence of any opportunity to market them before foreign buyers,the sources informed and hoped that it will now cross the double digit figure within one year of establishing the new complex.

The PIA, set up by the state government here a few years ago, has mostly remained non-functional so far with very few industrial fairs being held few and far between.

But this year it has been rejuvinated and a fortnight long industrial fair has been organised where several corporate and business houses from across the country are participating with their products.The fair has also generated huge enthusiasm and interest not only among the business community but also the general public here.

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