PATNA: State industries minister Shahnawaz Hussain said on Monday that the leather, textiles, ethanol production and food processing units, along with the proposed mega food park together have a huge potential to improve the state’s economy and also take it to new heights.
While a leather hub can be established in Kishanganj district and a leather processing unit in Muzaffarpur, Bihar has become the first state to have its ethanol production policy, as a result of which companies like JSW, Micromax and Indian Smart have submitted their project proposals, Hussain also said.
At present, the state has project proposals worth Rs 6,199 crore, including Rs 4,616 crore for the establishment of food processing units, he said.
Shahnawaz was speaking at a webinar organized jointly by the Press Information Bureau, Regional Outreach Bureau and the state’s industries department.
The theme of the webinar was the scope for food processing units in the state.
S K Malviya, additional director general at PIB’s Patna branch also spoke on the occasion.
Shahnawaz said Majhipada in Kishanganj is a centre from where raw leather is being sent to other states, besides being exported to other countries.
The government’s plan is to create a leather hub in Kishanganj district and a leather processing unit in Muzaffarpur.
As to the scope for ethanol production in Bihar, the minister said the companies have been showing active interest in establishing their units in the state, since it has become the first to have its ethanol policy.
The establishment of ethanol production plant will help farmers in selling their damaged grain to the industries department at the rates fixed for fresh grains.
It, in turn, will enhance the income of the farmers.
The damaged grains will be used to produce ethanol fuel, which is cheaper than petrol and diesel, Hussain said.
He said the companies offering to open their units in the state will be allotted land within seven days of the submission of the proposal.
Besides, the state government has already transferred the land of all the closed sugar mills to the industries department.
Presenting the overall scope for the food processing, leather and textile units, as well as ethanol production plants and the mega food park, Hussain said the state has improved infrastructure like road, air and waterways, while an inland container depot was under construction.
Trade and commerce will be conducted smoothly with other states and neighbouring countries, he added.