Odisha to focus on speedy clearances, roadshows to improve 'Ease of Business'

After getting a modest seventh rank among states in a recent World Bank report, Odisha is banking on its latest edition of the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) to upgrade its rank among investors on 'Ease of Doing Business'.

The latest IPR framed after a gap of eight years, has envisioned to attract new investments worth Rs 1.73 lakh crore by 2019-20. The new industrial policy statement is also loaded with features like a fast track cell to clear investment proposals within 30 days, a dedicated portal to ease business processes for investors and an exclusive mobile app for investment facilitation.

 

The state's one stop investment agency- Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (Ipicol) is planning a string of roadshows both within the country and overseas to ensure the IPR gets widespread traction and pulls investors.

"We are planning to conduct roadshows in at least 10 locations in the country by the end of this fiscal. We have also thought of 3-4 overseas locations but details are yet to be worked out", said a government source.

The state government has formed facilitation cells at Ipicol and District Industrial Centres (DICs). These cells carry out functions like guiding the investors, assessing project proposals and following up for timely approvals for establishment and operations of the units.

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has implemented the Online Consent Management System with effect from May 1, 2015 which eliminated all physical touch points.

Timelines for according approvals have also been revised. Registering a business in Odisha would take 1-3 days instead of seven days earlier. Similarly, government land would be alloted to industrial units within 30 days of disposal of application instead of 30 days previously.

The World Bank report released on September 14 placed Gujarat on the top slot on 'Ease of Doing Business' followed by Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The report was based on eight specified parameters which include setting up of business, allotment of land, labour reforms and procedure for environmental clearance.

The parameters also include infrastructure, procedure for registration for tax purposes and inspections for compliance of various norms.

Industry leaders feel inordinate delay in allotment of land and ineffective functioning of the single window system pulled down Odisha's rankings

"Our ranking in 'Ease of Doing Business' is nothing to cheer for if not dismal. Odisha should have figured amongst the top three states. But a host of factors have affected the ranking. Our Single Window System is not as effective as it is claimed to be. Land allotment is a pressing problem here. The state also failed to keep its commitments for big ticket projects like Posco", said Ramesh Mahapatra, president, Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (UCCI).

He, however, hoped that the state's business confidence would pick up after the launch of the latest IPR.

An industry source said, states that have put in place an efficient system at the ground level for alienation and allotment of land, developed freight corridors and introduced competitive rates for mineral transportation have scored high on 'Ease of Doing Business Index'.