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Punjab seeks funds for SEZs

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, FEB.10. Punjab has requested the Union Government for allocation of funds and other assistance related to the setting up of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the State, which it feels could prove to be a major growth engine for exports and provide employment to the youth. According to an official release, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh presiding over a seminar on "Establishment of Special Economic Zones in Punjab'' here today said that the State Government had already sent a proposal to the Union Government for approval to establish an SEZ in Amritsar. If sanctioned, the project would help revive the economy of the State as well as ensure development of the border areas.

Capt. Singh dwelt at length on the "practical difficulties being faced by the State Government'' for acquiring large chunks of land as a multi-purpose SEZ required at least 1000 hectares of land. His government was contemplating smaller SEZs in different cities like Ludhiana and Jalandhar, he added.

The Chief Minister disclosed that due to a series of steps initiated during 2003-04, the State had returned exports worth Rs. 9000 crores which was more than double during 2001-02 of the previous Government. The figures for the first six months of the current year have also indicated remarkable growth, he added.

Speaking on this occasion, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, T.K.A. Nair, expressed satisfaction over initiatives by Punjab for establishing SEZs and went ahead to assure on behalf of the Prime Minister to extend full cooperation expedite the proposal at the Centre.

The Punjab Governor and Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, said the concept of setting up of SEZ in Punjab, as announced by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, could act as a magnet for attracting foreign direct investment. He called for a vigorous, holistic and transparent approach with innovative initiatives for bringing appropriate structural changes to ensure that the State became globally competitive in agricultural and industrial sectors.

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Punjab seeks funds for SEZs

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