Anand Sharma sanctions third NIMZ in Prakasam dist

Hyderabad : A high-level meeting was held jointly by Union Minister for Industry, Commerce and Textiles Anand Sharma and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy with the senior officials of Union and State governments at Camp Office here on May 26. Anand Sharma complimented Chief Minister and the State government for taking several initiatives in the Industrial and Commerce and Textile front.

Union Minister agreed to sanction the third National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) for Prakasam district and directed the officials to take all steps to make operational the already approved NIMZs for Chittoor and Zahirabad. The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that substantial land for NIMZs are available at the respective places and acquisition process was in progress.

Sharma has also agreed for establishing "World Pharma Trade Centre" in Hyderabad for which the State government has already earmarked 5 acre land. The Union Minister advised the officials to make all efforts to lay the foundation for Footwear Designing and Development Institute (FDDI) at Hyderabad within 30 to 45 days time. He said that about 1,000 students would be trained annually in this International Standard Institute in Leatherwear Fashion Technology and required funds will be given by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

The Minister also asked the Union Government officials to revalidate the previously sanctioned Mega Tanning Cluster Complex at Kothapatnam of Nellore district. Stating that Visakhapatnam has become a key centre for cargo and trade with foreign countries, Anand Sharma agreed to sanction 'Indian Institute of Foreign Trade' (IIFT) at Visakhapatnam. Union Minister has also agreed to start one branch of 'Central Cottage Emporium' in Andhra Pradesh.

At the request of the Chief Minister, the Union Minister considered the sanction of 'mega clusters' at Dharmavaram, where 47,000 silk looms are there. Sharma congratulated the Chief Minister for the efforts to launch "E-Biz Project" by September-October, this year, as Andhra Pradesh is the first State to start single window permissions through online in the industrial sector.

Ministers J Geetha Reddy, G Prasad Kumar, Secretary, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India, Sourabha Chandra, Joint Secretary J K Dadoo, Development Commissioner, Textiles, Balwinder Kumar, Director, National Institute of Designs Pradyumn Vyas and other state officials attended the meeting.