Gujarat Industrial Policy - 2003
   
Highlights : 

 
INFORMATION AND FACILITATION

The basic aim is to create an atmosphere which should inspire any investor unable to resist to think of Gujarat first for his investment plans.

• Information: The Key to Success for any business enterprise
• Facilitation: Giving a momentum to the pace Developmental Process

FACILITATION BY GOVERNMENT

• Reincarnation of District Industries Centers
• Facilitation at the state level
  

INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMPOWERMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES

• Infrastructure development - a priority on state agenda
• Strengthening road and bulk supply of water network
• Establishment of SEZs and Industrial Parks
• Upgradation of GIDC and private Estates
• Empowerment of Industrial Estates

QUALITY OF LIFE

• Providing better quality of life in cities
• Parameters for urban upgradation : From the viewpoint of Investors

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Establishing synergy between educational institutions and the industries
• To promote the concept of Educational Complexes

LABOUR REFORMS

• Simplification of Rules and Procedures-Annual Consolidated Return
• Flexibility in Labour Laws in the SEZs/Industrial Parks
• Other Innovative Steps Proposed: Single Business Act, Self-certification through accredited consultants, one comprehensive visit of inspectors on an annual basis.

ENVIRONMENT

• Environmental Zoning and Mapping of all the districts of the State
• Compensation through Carbon Credit Exchange Programme

AGRO PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

• Important Initiatives
  • Doubling the processing of Agro Products in next five years
  • Establishing Food Parks of International Standards by utilizing Cool Energy of LNG at Dahej and Hazira
  • Declaration of AEZs: Agro Export for 12 products including onion, mangoes and other vegetables as sanctioned by APEDA for perishable cargo project
  • Promotion of Bio fuel
• Thrust on special sectors : Mission Mode Approach for Castor Seeds and
  Psyllium Husk
  

SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

• Cluster Development Approach, Assistance for Technology Upgradation,
  Technology Acquisition and Patent Tracking Fund, Quality Upgradation Scheme etc.

INVESTMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT

• Sectors under focus
  • Textiles
  • Apparel Parks
  • Gems and Jewellary Parks
  • R&D Institutions and Centres of Excellence
• State Awards of Excellence

MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION

• Common Branding and Marketing Fund
• Developing Virtual Exhibition Portals for products of Gujarat
• Development of Product-Country Matrix
• Assistance for sending product samples abroad
• Participation in seminars abroad
  
• Plans to set up permanent exhibition cum convention centers
  
• Patent Registration

ENERGY: POWER AND GAS

• Power sector reforms
  
• Rationalisation of Electricity Tariffs
  
• Role of the Government in distribution of gas : Lay the Mother Pipeline and distribution to be left to private sector
  
• Availability of gas in abundance : A USP for Gujarat
  
• Government to notify schedule for supply of gas soon
  
• Aligning State Policies with the Central Electricity Act, 2003
  
• Rationalisation of tax on natural gas
  
• Encouragement of non-conventional sources of energy

TAXATION

• Government committed to Tax Reforms
  
• Highlights of Sales Tax reforms since 1997-98
  
• Competitive Taxation Environment
  
• Stamp Duty Rationalisation

OTHER INITIATIVES

• Creating a conducive environment for investment
  
• Promotion of investment from NRIs and Foreign Direct Investment
  
• Port-led Development
  
• Regional Development - Corridor Studies planned
  

• PHASE-I
  • Monitoring Committee under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of State for Industry
     
    
• PHASE-II
  • Laying down Sectoral Roadmap : To strengthen existing manufacturing sectors, Development Councils will be constituted to prepare strategic blue prints for growth over next 15-20 years.
    

Complete text of the Industrial policy is available in MS Word format.