Guwahati, Dec 28 (IANS) The Centre has decided to resume the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) 2007 till March 31 next year with some revisions, Assam Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowari said on Wednesday.
Although NEIIPP, which came into existence in 2007, was supposed to continue for 10 years, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government suspended it in December 2014 due to some alleged shortcomings.
There were sharp reactions from different trade bodies, which have since been urging the governments in Delhi and Dispur to either resume NEIIPP or announce a new industrial policy for the landlocked region.
"The Centre will resume the registration of industrial units under the revised NEIIPP, Patowari said. The state government had received information in this regard from the Centre.
He said the Assam government hoped the Centre will announce a new policy to promote industrialisation in Assam and the rest of the northeast region from the next fiscal starting April 1.
The minister said all industrial units that commenced commercial production on or after December 1, 2014, and on or before March 31, 2017, as well as existing units which go in for substantial expansion and commence commercial production on or before March 31, 2017, will be eligible for incentives as per the revised subsidy norms.
He said more than 25 big industries are in the pipeline and many will be commissioned within a year.
"Taking together all proposals in the pipeline, the total investment will be around Rs 5,000 crore," he said adding that close to 44,000 people will get direct or indirect employment through these industries.
Patowari said the government proposed to create a land bank of about 5,000 acres so that investment from big multinational companies could be solicited.
"While our government has already taken steps for setting up a bamboo park, plastic park and a mega food park in Kamrup, Tinsukia and Barpeta districts, plans are afoot to set up tea and pharma parks, micro industries park and textiles park in different parts of the state," Patowari said.
The minister said the Assam government has decided to modernise all Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) for skilling youths.
"We are also going to introduce new trades in the ITIs so that our youth can skill up and find employment opportunities," he added.
