Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

30-April-2011

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry announced that Jodhpur-Pali- Marwar will be the second node of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor in Rajasthan. After a high level meeting with the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gahlot and Industry Minister Shri Rajinder Pareek at Jodhpur today, Shri Sharma informed that the first node in the state i.e. Khushkhera- Bhiwadi-Neemrana is witnessing steady progress. Final application for development of Aerotropolis to be developed in Rajasthan have been submitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry. Shri Sharma assured that the matter will be vigorously pursued at the highest level. He further assured that the expenses for the construction of road between Neemrana and Bhiwadi will be borne by the Central government. The Chief Minister, Shri Gahlot assured the due diligence in land acquisition for the projects and also asked the Union Minister to consider the possibility of development of an airport in Jodhpur.

Shri Sharma also announced that one of the proposed seven Mega Leather Clusters will be in Rajasthan which will give a boost to the leather industry in Rajasthan. After laying the foundation stone of the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) Shri Sharma said “in next 10 years ten million youngsters will enter the work force we need to improve the job opportunities to absorb them. Skill upgrading through institutes like FDDI is the only way to move forward.” He assured that the FDDI Jodhpur will be a state of the art institute equipped with latest facilities and world standard faculty. Land for the institute is given by the Rajasthan Government and the full expenditure to the tune of 97 crore is being borne by the Central Government.

Continuing on the topic of employment Mr Sharma said that very soon the Government will come out with National Manufacturing Policy and first National Manufacturing and Investment zone will come up in Rajasthan only. He said that the Central Government, in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan is investing heavily in the vocational training of the youth in the state. Apart from Rs 40 Crore ‘Support for Artisan’ programme through FDDI, Government is also running a Rs 60 Crore Placement Linked Skill Development Programme under which 700 youngsters of the state have been trained and placed in jobs in last six months. “Government is coming out with path-breaking policies Rajasthan needs to be ready to benefit from them” he said.

In a major announcement The Union Minister said that within next three days government will come out with the Final strategy for doubling the export in next three years.. Shri Sharma is likely to come back to the city in next two month to dedicate the proposed Spice Park to the city.

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Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor node designation expands infrastructure investment; central funding and manufacturing zone plans announced for Rajasthan. Designation of Jodhpur Pali Marwar as the second node of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor establishes regional infrastructure and investment priorities, with Central funding committed for the Neemrana-Bhiwadi road and Aerotropolis proposals advanced to the Civil Aviation Ministry. The state will undertake due diligence in land acquisition. Parallel initiatives include one proposed Mega Leather Cluster in Rajasthan, Central funding for a Jodhpur FDDI, and the first National Manufacturing and Investment Zone located in the state, supported by Central vocational and placement linked skill programmes.