RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched the state’s new Industrial Policy 2024-30 aimed at driving economic growth, generating employment and fostering sustainable industrial development.
“The initiative represents a crucial step toward improving both the economic and the social conditions of the state as the policy also aims to bring development to previously marginalised sections of society, providing them with opportunities to participate in the state's industrial growth. With an ingenious driven move for industrial growth, the policy intends to create a more equitable society with access to new opportunities”, said the chief minister.
The policy emphasised creating opportunities for youth, women, people with disabilities and marginalised communities, with several new initiatives designed to promote local employment, support entrepreneurs and attract investments to diverse sectors.
For the first time, there are specific exemptions earmarked for women entrepreneurs, surrendered Maoists, members of the third gender, Agniveer soldiers, retired ex-servicemen and entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, offering them pathways to public and private sector employment.
One of the key features of the policy is the focus on youth employment, with industries encouraged to hire locals and help them directly benefit from the state’s industrial growth.
The thrust sectors have been divided into incentivised high-growth sectors, service sectors, general sectors and core sectors.
The policy targets high-potential categories like pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture and food processing, non-wood forest products, green hydrogen, electronics, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and solar energy, offering special incentives to attract investment. To further promote large-scale industrial development, the government has promised an additional 5 per cent grant to the first five anchor enterprises with an investment exceeding Rs 200 crore in these sectors.
A foreign trade assistance centre to be set up in Raipur
As per the policy, higher incentives will be provided for industrially underdeveloped blocks.
To promote exports from the state, a Foreign Trade Assistance Centre will be set up in Raipur in collaboration with national-level institutions like IIFT, Kolkata.
The state government will provide a training allowance of Rs 15,000 for each new employee hired by industries that employ more than 1,000 local workers, provided the employee remains employed for at least 12 months.
The new industrial policy introduced unique measures aimed at rehabilitating and economically empowering surrendered Maoists. Under this provision, they will receive a 10 per cent subsidy to establish small and medium-scale enterprises. Special benefits are introduced for women and local youth interested in starting their businesses.
Another standout feature of the policy is its provision for industries engaged in AI, robotics and computing.
The policy addresses the revival of closed and sick industries, offering a special incentive package aimed at bringing these businesses back to life.