CII to focus on regional industries

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has finally set the tone for reviving the ailing industrial centres of North India.

Beginning with erstwhile ‘Manchaster of the East’, CII organised an event for the local industrialists under its ‘Building Kanpur for tomorrow’ programme.

“We want to change the perception that CII works on behalf of larger industrial houses only.

The beginning is from Kanpur and we will carry on with similar programmes at other industrial centres across North India,” said CII UP state council chairman, Jayant Krishna.

The event provided a platform for the local industry to air their grievances before senior administrative officials. The leather city’s eminent industrialist, Irshad Mirza blamed laxity in implementation of laws by the government for the industrial decline.

Representatives from various Kanpur-based textile, hosiery, plastics and engineering goods enterprises also submitted their proposals and demands to divisional commissioner Amit Kumar Ghosh.

Reacting to the problems of the city, the second largest revenue earner for the state government, Krishna proposed CII will act as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for regular policy and advocacy issues.

He added it was a pity that the largest city in UP was in doldrums and had faced an urban decay, which needs to be reverted soon. The city has over 7,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which provide employment to 2,00,000 people.