Jakhar seeks Centre’s help to promote industry

GURDASPUR: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Kumar Jakhar met Union commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu in in New Delhi on Thursday and sought the Union government’s help to promote industry in general and border districts of Punjab in particular.

Briefing about the new industrial policy being implemented by the Punjab government, Jakhar said that the policy was enforced by the Congress.

The state government has given exemption to the industry within the 30-km radius of the International border. Also, the CLU and EDS charges have been exempted to the first industry in this area.

The central government should also give tax relaxation to the industries, established in the border zone, said the Gurdaspur MP.

He said setting up of an oil refinery in Bathinda shows the potential of this area for the petrochemical industry.

If the Union government provides benefits of the special petro-chemical zone with this refinery, it will boost the industrial growth not only in Punjab but in Haryana and Rajasthan as well.

The PPCC chief also demanded the Goods and Service Tax (GST) exemption for the cotton industry to encourage crop diversification in the state.

He also informed the Union minister that the Centre has implemented the export credit guarantee scheme, but due to the shortcomings of scheme, small exporters are not able to avail equal opportunities for its trade.