Mulling over the new industrial policy
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 18 2011 -

THE LAST time Manipur had announced an industrial policy was in 1996. On April 15, 2011 the Department of Commerce and Industries sponsored a one day workshop on the draft proposal of a new industrial policy. The workshop was aptly organized by the All Manipur Entrepreneurs Association (AMEA) and the basic aim was to seek the opinions of entrepreneurs and the academia.

That the policy has seen the light of day is due to the determination and grit of O Nabakishore Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries. He had been the fuel to stoke the fire needed to produce the blue print of the policy. Soft spoken but definitely a man with a purpose he deserves applause. The draft policy in its final shape is rather bulky.

This is obviously because of cross influences leading to a string of dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's. If the key thrust areas had been clearly delineated the policy would have been more compact and more purposeful.

There are a few things to mull over. Gone are the days when smoking chimneys and roaring machines epitomized industrial activity. We have reached a stage where the total concept of industry has changed.

Of eco-tourism and tourism being industries most people are aware of, but times have changed and the service sector and medical services too have become industries. It is in this regard that Dr Kh Palin, Managing Director of Shija Hospitals has been making a forceful and very purposeful plea to use our medical services to lure people from neighbouring states, and the neighbouring country of Myanmar.

He is one of the most successful entrepreneurs this state has produced, and it would be wise to listen to him. His proposal is succinct.

Let Manipur have the state of the art technology and well trained people to render the very best of medical services. He has been eyeing the western half of Myanmar which has repeatedly, though not officially sought medical services from Manipur. His reasoning is that medical services in western Myanmar are of poor quality and very expensive when compared to what is available in Manipur.

Dr Palin has always been suggesting that Moreh and Imphal should be the two spots where the state of the art medical services should be set up. To facilitate providing medical services he had been calling for granting of 'visa on arrival'.

He had also made known that he is quite willing for the government to be a partner in such a set up on the basis of a 'Public, Private Partnership' (PPP). Should his suggestion be put into practice the fall out will be a bonanza for hoteliers and traders.

Another successful entrepreneur Dr Th Dhaballi, Managing Director, Babina Diagnostic Centre has in past asked the government to extend incentives to medium sized entrepreneurship. This too is an excellent idea.

When there are entrepreneurs who are willing to invest some crores to set up enterprises of international standards, staking some money on them, giving incentives to them and granting them certain privileges will turn out to be a very rational and profitable move.

'Selling' the service sector could perhaps turn out to be the best industry the state could invest in. A portion of our youth is already engaged in high paying jobs in the country's bigger cities.

The government should invest some crores to create a potential work force that understands the implications of the service sector and a force that is well trained. With a sound background they can get access to the high paying jobs not only in India but also in the ASEAN region. For one thing such a step will hugely help reduce the number of educated unemployed.

In the meanwhile, it is learnt that the Principal Secretary intends to raise the levels of incentives for entrepreneurial units operating within a ' 50 lakh capacity. This is bound to please a great many entrepreneurs working in the small scale spectrum.