Chandigarh May 19: A large number of opportunities including promotion of home health care, transition of automobile component manufacturing to aerospace machinery manufacturing and use of transformational technology like 5-G, Edge, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Block Chain in governance and industrial manufacturing were identified in the Video Conference chaired jointly by Ms Nisha Biswal, President United States India Business Council (USIBC) and Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal here today. This meeting was attended by CEOs/top management of more than 60 most prominent American Companies. These included Boeing, Coca Cola, Baxter, Walmart, Stryker, Master Card, Troy Corporation, GE and Intel.
Mr Manohar Lal said that for the last two months, each one of us has experienced a life in which difference between ‘local’ and ‘global’ has completely vanished. We have all worked from home, made do with only essential goods and services and seen economic life slow down to a halt. Our lives have been devoid of travel, routine and entertainment, he added.
He said that the satisfaction of having stayed safe and having kept our loved ones safe is no mean achievement. He said that 20 years ago this virus could have threatened the very human existence. “I, therefore, congratulate you all on the incredibly positive public health outcomes that have been achieved across the globe”, said the Chief Minister.
He said that the adverse human, social, fiscal and economic impacts of the Lock Down measures unfolded every day. Like all other governments we tried our best to mitigate these. We did not let anyone sleep hungry in Haryana and kept the spread of the Corona virus in check.
While sharing that has been uniquely local in Haryana, the Chief Minister said that we have used the lockdown period effectively for introducing many governance reforms. From March to May we have set up 3 brand new Departments namely Department of MSMEs; Department of Housing for All and Department of Citizen Resources Information. Also, to address the concern of high land prices, we have added a new investor friendly element of land allotment for manufacturing units on lease basis.
The Chief Minister said that last week, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi announced an economic stimulus equal to 10 per cent of our GDP. He said that we are not looking at incremental reforms but a quantum leap. He laid out four aspects of this package; Land, Labour, Liquidity and Laws. He assured that on each of these Haryana shall be the frontrunner among all states of India in the coming days, weeks and months.
The participants appreciated the efforts made by the Haryana Government and its officers in managing Covid situation in the State particularly in Gurugram and Faridabad. They shared their project proposals and ideas for their further investment in Haryana.
The Chief Minister tasked Mr Anurag Aggarwal, MD, HSIIDC to regularly follow up with individual companies through Virtual Web Desk already set up. He also suggested Ms Nisha Biswal for deputing someone from USIBC. He assured that the State Government would facilitate all investment that may come to Haryana as a result of today’s discussion.
Ms Nisha Biswal, President USIBC said that Haryana is best suited for setting up of manufacturing bases of US companies wishing to diversify their production across the globe in post Covid World.
Among those present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Chairman, HSIIDC Mr Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary Industries Mr A.K Singh and Managing Director HSIIDC Mr Anurag Aggarwal.
Those who attended the Video Conference included Salil Gupte of Boeing, Mahesh Palasikar, GE Manufacturing, President & CEO South Asia; Nitin Atroley, KPMG (Advisory), Official Managing Partner; Nivruti Rai, Country Head, Intel India; Vivek Vashisht, Lead Operations IBM Global Process Services; Neelima Dwivedi, Microsoft Corporation Group Head,; Adrian Krygsman, Troy Corporation, Director, Product Registration; Meenakshi Meenakshi, Stryker, Vice President & Managing Director; Ashmita Sethi UTC India Pvt Ltd, President & Country Head; Anaam Sharma, Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd; Saurabh Singh, Nokia Solutions and Networks India Pvt Ltd; Rakesh Swami, GE Healthcare, Sr. Director; Anand Vijay Jha, Walmart, Vice President and Head – Public Policy and Communications; Ravinder Dang General Manager, Baxter India; Srinath Venkatesh, President, Danher , India; Meenakshi Nevatia, Stryker VP & MD; Pankaj Bharadwaj Avery Dennison (Manufacturing) VP & General Manager; Palash Roychoudhury SmartE (E-vehicles) Chairman & MD.