GUWAHATI, June 11 - With a view to giving a boost to the industry sector in Assam, the State government has fixed a plan of action to be carried out within the next 100 days to promote trade and investment, which include implementation of the Assam Ease of Doing Business Bill, creation of a land bank and operationalization of the plastic park at Gelapukhuri in Tinsukia.
�We have identified certain activities for the next 100 days. These include introduction of the Assam Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2016, which will lead to creation of a single-window agency and operationalization of the single-window portal, creation of a land bank for industries and also to operationalize the first phase of the plastic park at Gelapukhuri in Tinsukia district,� Chandra Mohan Patowary, Minister for Industries & Commerce, Parliamentary Affairs and Transport, said at a press conference here today.
�We have already introduced the Assam Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2016, before the Legislative Assembly on June 3 and it was passed by the House unanimously. Necessary notifications in this regard will be issued soon. The process of operationalization of the single-window portal is in progress,� he said, adding the entire system is expected to be activated within 100 days.
He further said that with as many as 24 lakh unemployed youths in the State against six lakh government jobs, the government sector is not enough to provide employment to all.
With regard to the land bank, Patowary said to begin with, 2,107 bighas of land, which is with the Industry Department, will be put in the land bank.
As for the plastic park at Gelapukhuri, he said the first phase will have an area of 10,000 square feet.
Regarding the sick and closed State PSUs, Patowary said reopening them with government money is not possible and a joint committee will look into the issue of reopening such units under the public-private partnership model and through private investments.
He said the State government will discuss the matter of reviving the Jagiroad Paper Mill with the Centre.
�We also want a change in the national industrial policy with regard to Assam and we will take up the issue with the Centre,� said the Minister.
He added that a discussion with stakeholders with regard to boosting the sector was held earlier this week, in which 13 trade and industries organizations, as well as departments from the State and Central government departments and agencies, took part.
�In the discussion, over 150 suggestions were received and now we are working on them to prepare a future roadmap for speedy industrial development of Assam,� Patowary said.
