The West Bengal Government, in a new draft industrial policy, said it proposed to build physical infrastructure in the State rapidly through public-private partnerships (PPP).

According to the State’s Industrial and Investment Policy, 2013, the Government plans to build and improve 4,000 km of highways on the PPP mode and other infrastructure, primarily to promote large-scale industries.

The other infrastructure include bridges, ports, water transport systems and airports.

“At present, manufacturing contributes about 10 per cent of the State GDP. The aim of the policy is to double this share in five years.

With its power surplus status and rapidly expanding infrastructure and connectivity, this is a realistic target,” the document said.

The document, which has been posted on State Government Web site, accorded immediate priority to small and medium textiles, agro-based, food processing, leather, gems and jewellery units.

It also expressed an intention of reviving tea and jute industries.

This the first industrial policy exercise by the Trinamool-led government that came into power in May 2011.

It has welcomed FDI in new technologies in engineering, chemicals, petrochemicals and downstream hydrocarbon industries.

The draft policy aims at increasing manufacturing growth from 4.7 per cent (2010-11) to 20 per cent by 2015-16.

The document also includes new incentives linked to four categories of areas depending on their respective levels of industrialisation.

Earlier, the State had three such categories.

>jayanta.mallick@thehindu.co.in

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