The Hindu Business Line : McKinsey to map out mineral wealth of eastern States

THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Eastern Region (ER) has commissioned McKinsey to carry out a study to map out the strength and the minerals, metals and manufacturing potential of the Eastern States. The study will also highlight the mineral-market size, matching it with the demand pattern.

The Confederation has adopted the theme `Competitiveness through 3M - Minerals, Metals and Manufacturing' for the States in the East during 2004-05. It has set up a Steering Committee consisting of senior representatives of major companies in the region, such as Tata Steel, NMDC, SAIL and Indal, to work in co-ordination with McKinsey's on the 3M study.

Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and certain tracts of West Bengal are rich in mineral wealth in the east.

Briefing newspersons here today on the programmes of CII-ER, for 2004-05, Mr B. Muthuraman, the new CII-ER Chairman, said the McKinsey study, to be ready within the next six months or so, will be discussed by experts, from the country and abroad at an international workshop.

Stressing on the need to carry on with the theme for the next three years, the Tata Steel MD said, according to the CII, the Eastern States had greater resources compared to the rest of the country . This can be translated into metal-based manufacturing activity for achieving global competitiveness, thus aiding an eastern resurgence. Mr Muthuraman said it was important that institutes in the region produced trained manpower in areas such as metallurgy. The CII, he said, would bring institutes and industry on a common platform to address each other's concerns.

Mr Muthuraman said the CII would also partner the State governments in the east to address the investors' concerns. He said the Eastern States were the primary reservoir of minerals and metals in the country and can fuel revival of manufacturing activities in the States.

Mr Muthuraman, however, clarified that the focus on manufacturing will not dilute CII's existing initiatives across various sectors in the services, knowledge and agriculture. He said the CII would help in inculcating Corporate Social Responsibility among its members. CII, he pointed out, would work through its eastern offices in Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Bhubaneshwar, Raipur, Patna and its offices in north east in Guwahati, Kohima and the recently opened one in Agartala. He said the CII would also promote `Brand East' through a series of national road shows.

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