Tuesday, June 7 2005 08:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: Promising an investment-friendly climate, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda yesterday (Jun 6, 2005) announced the State's new Industrial Policy aimed at attracting an investment of Rs 2 lakh crore in a decade and generating one million jobs.

The policy would be more flexible and have a wider scope for investment, Hooda said.

The new policy had offered a number of incentives and concessions to attract domestic and foreign direct investment and to promote industry, especially in backward areas, he told reporters in Chandigarh.

Hooda said certain areas, which had been identified after analysing their growth potential and long-term sustainability, would continue to be thrust areas.

These thrust areas include agro-based and food processing industry, electronics, information and communication technology, automobiles, handloom, hosiery, textile and garments manufacturing, export-oriented units and footwear, he said.

"My first job is to create an investment-friendly climate. The potential of Haryana is its distinct geographical location, which we will exploit. Over the next five years, you will see Haryana will become the number one State," Hooda said.

Maruti Udyog Limited, which already has a plant in Gurgaon, was now setting up new plant at Manesar, also in same district, he said.

The State Government had decided to encourage participation of private sector and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the development of infrastructure in a big way and lay stress on development of industrial and social infrastructure as drivers of investment promotion.