Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today assured industrialists that the existing policy to allow Change in Land Use (CLU) transfer will be reviewed to facilitate industrial development in the state.

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The assurance was given by the chief minister during one-to-one meetings with industrialists here to woo more investment and boost industrial development in Punjab.

The chief minister held meetings this evening with Walmart India president and CEO Krish Iyer and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Rajneesh Kumar, followed by a detailed discussion with Max Healthcare CEO and MD Rajit Mehta.

Close on heels was a meeting with Shahi Exports MD Harish Ahuja and Radisson Hotel Group Chairman Emeritus and Principal Advisor South Asia K B Kachru.

Tomorrow in Delhi, the chief minister will interact with top industry leaders in a day-long session. It is being organised by the CII and the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion.

Singh apprised the industry leaders of the various incentives made available by his government to business houses seeking to invest in Punjab, with the promise to review the new industrial policy to address specific concerns, according to an official spokesperson.

In his interaction with Walmart officials, the chief minister assured that his government would consider CLU transfer to enable the company to expand in Punjab, where it had set up its first store in 2009.

Urging Walmart to look at further expansion in the state, Singh said the new industrial policy launched by his government had brought ease of doing business and that he was open to making further amendments to the policy to address major concerns. The Walmart officials expressed willingness to set up 10-12 new stores in Punjab over the next three to four years, with the next couple of stores likely to come up in Patiala and Mohali.

They also showed interest in opening a 'dark store' (fulfilment store), on the lines of the one opened in Mumbai, in the state.

The dark store is designed to serve kirana stores in the neighbourhood and other business-to business customers through online orders.

Appreciating the women workforce in Punjab, Walmart officials said each of their stores would provide direct employment to 250 persons and indirect to 2,000 persons, including women.

During his discussions with Max Healthcare CEO and MD, the chief minister pointed out that his government had recognised healthcare as a thrust sector and was keen to strengthen the medical facilities in the state.

Max Healthcare CEO Mehta said his company was interested in opening a medical college in Bathinda, and would also support the state government in training of manpower needed for providing healthcare to the people.

The chief minister promised to resolve the issue of inadequate parking space that was holding up the expansion of Max's Mohali facility from 220 to 300 beds. Mehta said the company had already offered to buy land nearby or take the land of the civil hospital on lease for use as a parking lot.

Singh, during his talks with Shahi Exports, focused on the state government's decision to review the norms for infrastructure development for Textiles. His government would work towards liberalized zoning for higher FAR, 24x7 operations to run in three shifts and exemption from motor vehicle tax on buses plied by the Industry for its employees, the chief minister said.

It was also working to allow women employees to work in night shifts subject to the employer providing the necessary security and other requisite arrangements, the chief minister told Ahuja.

In his meeting with Kachru, Singh informed him about the various incentives being given to the hospitality segment, as a thrust sector under the new industrial policy of Punjab.

His government was also looking at giving 100 per cent Exemption from Entertainment Tax for Tourism and Hospitality as part of the sector-specific special incentives for units in thrust sectors.

The chief minister was informed that the Group was planning to increase its total portfolio of hotels in India to 200 by 2022 and add 10,000 employees.

In Punjab, they have 10 hotels at present and are building a lifestyle hotel in Mohali.

Kachru said the group's primary focus for expansion was on relatively smaller cities.

 

(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)