Gujarat targets 15 percent industrial growth

Calcutta News.Net
Monday 5th January, 2009 (IANS)

Gujarat is aiming to achieve an annual industrial growth of 14.5 to 15 percent for the next five years, Minister of State for Industry and Energy Saurabh Patel said Monday.

'The Planning Commission has set a growth target of 11.2 percent for Gujarat in the next five years. In order to achieve this, we are aiming an industrial growth of 14.5 to 15 percent,' Patel told reporters after unveiling the state's new industrial policy here.

He added that the new policy, with special focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), would help the state become 'the best' in the country in terms of industrial development.

Maheshwar Sahu, managing director of the state-run Gujarat Industrial Development Corp (GIDC), has said the industrial policy-2009 gives more emphasise on socio economic development.

'Chief Minister Narendra Modi wants to help SMEs in a big way so that they come to the forefront with products that ranks top in quality. That's why 'Made in Gujarat' is being emphasised,' he said.

Sahu added that quality of products will be given supremacy.

The policy was unveiled a week before the fourth biennial global investors' summit, beginning Jan 12.

The last Vibrant Gujarat: Global Investors' Summit in 2007 saw the signing of 675 memorandums of understanding worth Rs.4.6 trillion, which have an employment generation potential of around 1.27 million.

In 2009, the state will focus on developmental process and there is intensive growth in the socio-economic index, Patel said.

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