Ensure level playing field for new, existing industries: Punjab CM

In a bid to offer a level playing field in the industry sector in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday directed authorities to give same concessions to existing industry as well as new one.

Amarinder's directive to the Industry Department came during his meeting with a Cofederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation led by Sumant Sinha.

The delegation met the Chief Minister here to discuss ways and means of promoting 'ease of doing business' in the northern states, particularly Punjab.

Amarinder Singh said his government was striving to make Punjab number one in terms of ease of doing business, compared with its 12th position at present.

The Chief Minister accepted the delegation's suggestion to ensure a level playing field for industrial groups that chose not to move out of Punjab due to more attractive packages offered by other states.

He asked officials to incorporate this aspect in the new industrial policy, "which the department is working on," a government spokesperson said here.

The CII delegation also suggested to the Chief Minister steps to promote agro-based food processing industry and small-scale industry in the agrarian state.

The Punjab government is grappling with a huge financial debt of over Rs 2 lakh crore.

--IANS

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