A National E-Conference on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat: Focus: Downstream Industries in Steel, Chemical and Petro-Chemical Sector’ was organized yesterday by the Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICC) in association with the Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. At the E-Conference, The Minister of Steel & Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, appealed to steel industry leaders to work with transparent policies and generate employment opportunities to strengthen the country in making it “atmanirbhar”. He further stated that with a bouquet of policy reforms, the government aims to provide a level-playing field to the industries for wealth creation and that well-laid out processes and policy clarity are being designed to ensure ease of doing business.
Pradhan said, “Ensuring minimum government, and maximum governance will be key to enabling our industries to create wealth for society. We must facilitate businesses by providing necessary infrastructure.” He called upon steel industry leaders to gear up to meet domestic requirements. He added that our collective efforts with resolve and co-operation will pave the way for making of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The minister said that the country has emerged from the slowdown caused by the pandemic and multiple economic indicators are already suggesting a rebounding of the Indian economy. He said there is a visible growth in the manufacturing sector. Exports which were – 6.6 in 2019, have grown by 5.3 percent last month. He mentioned that Railway freight has shot up by 15 percent, FDI has increased, and there is increasing investments in various projects leading to positive growth trajectory. He also stated that Industry and businesses have a huge role to play in the economic recovery and self-reliant India.
Talking about the Mission Purvodaya envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which calls for balanced development of India with eastern India leading the way, Pradhan said that Odisha will play a key role in realizing Mission Purvodaya and making of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Odisha’s natural advantage in mineral resources and having large ports offer unique opportunities for industrial growth. He said both the steel and petrochemical sectors and their ancillary industries are uniquely poised to leverage the opportunities and further expand their footprints. (Source: Steel360)
