The Hindu Business Line : Maharashtra: CM vows end to octroi duty in near future

DR SHAKEEL AHMED, Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Mr Nayan Patel, President, IMC, at the 100th Foundation Day Celebrations of the chamber in Mumbai on Thursday. — Shashi Ashiwal

Mumbai , Sept. 7

Preparations for abolishing Octroi duty are in progress, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said on Thursday.

Addressing the centenary foundation day celebration of the Indian Merchant Chamber, the Chief Minister said Octroi would be scrapped before the chamber ends its centenary year celebrations.

He said IMC could take full credit for the abolishment, as it would be the State Government's gift to the business community in IMC's centenary year.

Referring to new investments in the State, he said that the government would focus on improving power, roads, IT, biotech, agri-business, tourism and so on. The e-governance initiatives to link all regions and districts on Wide Area Network has helped registration and clearance, he said.

Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Union Minister of State for Communications and IT, released a commemorative stamp in honour of IMC.

IMC's theme this year is bridging gaps in globalisation. "India's economic advancement is not driven by software programmers and call centres alone. Our manufacturing output is growing at 9 per cent, almost catching up with services at 10 per cent. The Indian IT industry has proved to be a popular draw for foreign investors. Large players like Microsoft, Cisco, Nokia and Elcotel have committed a consolidated sum of $ 8.6 billion in the telecom and IT sectors in 2005-2006," said Mr Nayan Patel, President, IMC.

IMC has planned numerous global initiatives for the centenary year — India calling conferences, co-operation agreements and MoUs, exchange of business delegations, affiliations with ICC-Paris and Osaka Business Partner City Council, trade fairs, and exhibitions in India and abroad.

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