The Arunachal Pradesh government has sought the Centre’s assistance because the state looks to spice up its industrial sector and generate employment opportunities, officials said on Friday.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu, during a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, has solicited the support of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for attracting investments to the state, officials at the chief minister’s office said.
“The government has accorded high priority to the event of industry, which successively would increase economic activities and make jobs,” the CM wrote.
A marathon virtual meeting was subsequently arranged during the day between state and central officialdom , during which representatives from Arunachal Pradesh underlined the key strengths of its industrial sector to DPIIT Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra.
Invest India CEO Deepak Bagla was also present at the meeting, the officials said.
Planning and Investment Commissioner Prashant Lokhande gave an in depth presentation on the state’s investment opportunities, with specialise in availability of land, improved connectivity and abundant natural resources.
He acknowledged a number of the priority sectors like agro-forest and food processing industry, tourism, power and renewable energy, have good investment potential, and asserted that the state would offer all possible facilities to the potential investors.
Bagla, during the meeting, assured support to the officials, and said his agency would create a special cell for promoting investment in Arunachal Pradesh.
Invest India also will launch a fanatical website to spotlight opportunities within the northeast, he said.
Officials from the ministries of DONER, Railways, Road Transport, Civil Aviation, Tourism, Food Processing industries, Textiles, Electronics and knowledge Technology among others gave assurances that they might extend support to the state to expedite necessary infrastructure creation.
Stressing that the state’s food processing sector, if put to use for creating mini food parks and cold chains, would end up to be of immense value, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar urged the central public sector undertakings (CPSUs) to assist Arunachal as anchor investors.
