Chandigarh: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today had a detailed meeting with the representatives of industrial houses, industry department, labour department and all other concerned departments to finalize the contours of the policy frame work to attract minimum investment of Rs. 1 lac crore in next 5 years.

Accompanied by industry Minister Mr. Anil Joshi and Labour Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Mr. Badal had a detailed deliberation with the representatives of industrial houses from all over the country to understand their expectations, aspirations besides to streamline the policy issues infringing the industrial growth in the State.

Addressing the industrialists the Deputy Chief Minister said that Punjab was the only state in the country that was having 3 international airports besides World Class Road connectivity with all major cities linked with 4/6 laned roads. He said that Punjab would be the first state in the country that would be power surplus by 2013-14, assuring 24 hours quality power supply to industry in the state. He said that power tariff in Punjab was one of the lowest in the Country for the industry and with the commissioning of 3 thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo, Goindwal Sahib and Rajpura, the power tariff is also to come substantially down in the state.

Offering conducive environment for the industrial growth, Mr. Badal said that Punjab was the only state in the Country where labour relations were totally smooth during last 40 years. He said that Punjab had chain of engineering polytechnics and ITIs that provide human resource backup for the upcoming industry. He said that entrepreneurial spirit of Punjabi has already made Punjab a leader in small scale industry and with the availability of quality ancillary, the upcoming industry would break even quite early from their date of inception.

Mr. Badal said that Punjab is all set to become most favoured destination for Gen-x industry as well as IT industry in the state as many IT tycoons have showed their interest to set up their manufacturing base in the state. He said that SAS Nagar, Mohali is all set to become IT hub whereas Malwa region would be the futuristic textile hub. Mr. Badal said that steps were being taken by the department to set up to create a 200 acre industrial park near Bathinda refinery to facilitate ancillary industry.

Asking Secretary Industry and other government officers to retune their policy framework to provide single window service to upcoming industry, Mr. Badal sought immediate completion of portal of industry department so as to enable new industry to apply on portal.

Mr. Badal also reviewed the progress of ongoing construction of thermal plants in the state and expressed satisfaction over thermal plants sticking to their schedule of construction.

Prominent amongst others those who represented industry sector were Mr. S.P. Oswal, Mr. Kamal Oswal and Industrial icons from all over the country. From the government side Principal Secretary Industries Mr. A.R. Talwar, Principal Secretary Labour, Mr. A.K. Nayyar, Labour Secretary Mr. P.S. Mand, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. P.S. Aujla, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu were also present in the meeting.