The Hindu Business Line : Modi charts out `5F' plan

The Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, said five more special economic zones (SEZs) would be set up in Gujarat, primarily near ports. Presently the state has 22 SEZs. Stating that gas was the building block of Gujarat's economy, he said gas pipelines from Pipavah would be extended up to Batinda in Punjab. Presently a pipeline runs between Pipavah and Jaipur.

He said ceramics, jewellery, agro-processing would be the sectors seeing growth over the next few years in Gujarat. He charted out the `5F' plan for taking the Gujarat economy to new heights. The `5Fs' refer to a transition from `farm-to-fibre-to-fabric-to-fashion-to-foreign' (meaning export of finished goods made from cotton).

Urging investors to look at Gujarat, he spoke of facilities like 24-hour three-phase power supply in all the villages in the state, 99 per cent road connectivity in rural areas and port infrastructure to support trade of any kind. He said all infrastructure in Gujarat was port-lead enhancing producer to port connectivity.

Participating in a programme organised by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday, to woo investment to the State, Mr Modi assured the investor community of "no red-tapism but only red-carpet welcome" if they would set up shop in Gujarat.

Gujarat is organising a Global Investors Summit early next year at Ahmedabad. The previous summits in 2003 and 2005, resulted in deals worth about Rs 66,000 crore and Rs 1,06,000 crore, said Mr Modi.

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