Bihar government aims to boost footwear industry

The government in the Indian state of Bihar has taken steps to create a state-funded industrial cluster in an attempt to revive the footwear industry in the town of Mora Talab. According to industry department principal secretary Mr S Siddharth, the government intends to raise funds from financial institutions to create the proper level of infrastructure and amenities so that investors and skilled workers can open new footwear production units in Mora Talab.

Mr Siddharth who chaired a policy workshop on 'Strategies and policies for accelerating industrialisation and urbanisation in Bihar', said the revival of Mora Talab footwear industry was being done in line with the state’s new 2016 industrial incentive policy.

"We would now have state-funded industrial clusters – the state government would take loans from financial institutions and sponsor the creation of various product-based clusters," he commented. “Skilled manpower is no problem. "Many skilled workers and investors associated with footwear have moved to other states, but [are] willing to return if proper infrastructure and amenities [are] provided."

The new strategy is being driven from the state capital Patna, shown in the photograph above.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the February 2017 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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