Godrej, Aptech, Weikfield keen to invest in Himachal

Himachal Pradesh Thursday got more investment proposals from Godrej, Aptech, Mukand Ltd., Weikfield Foods Pvt. Ltd., Stanford English Academy and American Global Health Group in the investors' meet in Mumbai, an official said.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, leading a delegation of government functionaries, said in a meeting here that the state is offering several incentives to entrepreneurs, including freezing power tariff till 2018 at one fixed rate for the new industry.

While Weikfield Foods has showed interest in setting up food, beverages and agro-based food parks, Stanford English Academy intends to set up the first vocational university in the state with a projected investment of Rs.200-250 crore, a government spokesperson told IANS.

LR Active Private Ltd., dealing in edible oil, has shown interest in opening food parks besides launching environment-friendly cement bags replacing polythene.

American Global Health Group, world leaders in organic aloe vera and energy drinks, has submitted a proposal of Rs.100 crore for producing aloe vera products, besides Rs.190 crore in a mega food park and and Rs.127 crore in a paper bag industry.

Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd. was keen to invest in agro-packaging, food processing and cold stores in the state, said the spokesperson.

He said officials of Tata Group of companies met the chief minister and expressed interest in investing in construction of infrastructure and real estate.

Ireland-based CRH Cement Company has proposed to set up a cement plant, whereas a proposal was discussed for setting up a film city by the Triumph Institute of Performing Arts.

Scaling Heights Entertainment Private Ltd. has also submitted a proposal for setting up a film city at an investment of over Rs.500 crore in Palampur in Kangra district.

Tata, Mahindra and Mahindra and Amarson Ltd. and Meridian Group Wednesday expressed interest in investing in the state, while Pidlite and Luminous Power Technology India showed interest in expanding their existing facilities in the state.

This was the first phase investors' meet organised in association with the Confederation of India Industries.

Two more meets in this phase will be organised in Bangalore and Ahmedabad Friday and Saturday respectively.

In the second phase, the investors' meet will be held next month in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and New Delhi.

Official data shows that Himachal Pradesh got maximum investment from 2003 to 2010 when there was a special industrial package of the central government.

Most investments were in pharmaceutical, food processing, textile, packaging and light engineering sectors.