INVC NEWS
Dubai,
The Haryana Government plans to come out with a liberal retail policy next month which would contain various provisions, including opening of 24X7 stores in the state. Given the rising number of middle class population, and the standards of living of people heading north, Haryana has great potential for such stores.
This was disclosed by the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal while interacting with Dubai-based business tycoons and leaders of various groups, in Dubai yesterday. These included Landmark Group, NMC, Al Maya Group, Diplomats Summit, UK, Hakan Agro and NIFTEM having interests in such fields as retail, rice processing, exports, healthcare and bringing investments into Haryana.
The Chief Minister is leading a high-level delegation to Dubai to woo investors. He was received at the airport by Mr Vipul, Consul General, Consulate General of India, in Dubai. The delegation includes Industry Minister, Mr Vipul Goel, Chief Secretary, Mr D. S. Dhesi, and Industry Secretary, Mr Sudhir Rajpal.
At his meeting with Landmark Group, the Chief Minister offered help to skill its employees, and said the state could also supply staff to the group through a training programme.
The Haryana Government also offered to organize a buyer-supplier meet for the Landmark Group in January where smaller suppliers can exhibit their products. Additionally, one-on-one meeting with major suppliers can be arranged with help of the state government, Mr Manohar Lal said.
The Landmark Group, the second largest non-food retail company in UAE, operates major retail brands in India such as Lifestyle, Max and Splash, It has already opened sourcing office in Gurgaon, and has hospitality division christened Home Centre.
At his meeting with NMC, a healthcare giant, the Chief Minister said the state government would explore the option of setting up a medi-city in Panchkula. New hospital projects can be explored in the districts of Rewari, Mahendergarh, Fatehabad, Dadri, Sirsa, Panipat, Kaithal.
NMC operates 40 healthcare facilities in the UAE and seven hospitals in India, five of which are acquired and two are greenfield. The NMC plans for the possible acquisition of existing Goldfield College and SRS Hospital.
Mr. Kamal Vachani, Group Director, Al Maya Group, discussed with the Chief Minister issues related to increasing exports from Haryana to Dubai. India is one of the major exporters to the GCC which accounts for close to 30 per cent of total exports.
Prospects of HAFED exploring the possibility of establishing brand Haryana Fresh for various products and market these through the super markets of the Al Maya Group were assessed at the meeting. Mr Vachani suggested that he would lead a delegation of exporters from the UAE to Haryana to explore the possibility of sourcing products from small manufacturers in Haryana.
Mr Sailesh Nathan of Diplomats Summit, UK, who met the Chief Minister, said his group was actively involved in mobilizing investments from Europe and Middle East into India, and that a number of such proposals could be routed to Haryana.
The Chief Minister apprised them of the vast opportunities of investment Haryana offered and the land bank available in the state for the industry to set up projects. Any enterprise coming to Haryana would be accorded all approvals within 45 days for setting up projects through the Haryana Enterprises Promotion Centre (HEPC).
Mr. Sudhakar Tomar, Hakan Agro, at his meeting with the Chief Minister, discussed issues regarding rice processing and exports from India. He also offered to lead a delegation of food processors from the India Middle East Agro Trade Forum to Haryana for exploring the possibility of sourcing products/ raw material from the state and marketing such products in the GCC Countries.
During the discussion with NIFTEM, Mr Manohar Lal, felt the need to identify marketable products based on raw material available in Haryana. It was also felt that a buyer-seller meet can also be organized for match-making between the marketers based in the Middle East and producers/ manufacturers in Haryana.
Later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister also addressed a gathering of about 70 top investors from the UAE. He urged them to invest in Haryana and assured them full support of the state government.
The Industries Minister, Mr Vipul Goel, and the Chief Secretary, Mr D.S. Dhesi, also spoke on the occasion. Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Principal Secretary, Industries, made a detailed presentation on Haryana showcasing its potential and the opportunities the state offered.
