CII will give thrust to infrastructure development, manufacturing, skills training and promotion of tier II and III cities this year.

Outlining CII's key priorities for 2012-13, Mr G.V. Sanjay Reddy, chairman, CII Southern Region, said in Bangalore on Friday that the industry body would focus on the theme, ‘South India 2020 – Accelerate Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development'.

According to him, South India contributes to over 22 per cent of the country's GDP and 28 per cent of its employment. The region's advantages in economic and social development indices give it the potential to sustain accelerated growth over the next decade, and create global scale in select sectors.

However, infrastructure bottlenecks, slow pace of reforms, lack of skilled labour and challenges in governance threaten this growth.

4-pronged agenda

To accelerate growth, CII Southern Region has come up with a four-pronged agenda for this year — competiveness, infrastructure, inclusiveness and sustainability. Stress will also be on enhancing the role of the manufacturing sector in the country's economy.

Mr Reddy said that realising the huge potential for growth in manufacturing in the South, CII proposes state-level manufacturing policies and aims to get at least 3-5 manufacturing investment zones.

CII also would propose an integrated logistic hub connecting major ports in Southern states, he said. Logistics hubs would bring in efficiency in transportation by way of integrated multimodal access and with an exclusive freight corridor.

Special focus would also be on art, culture and tourism, and women empowerment initiatives. CII also plans to launch the ‘Festival of South India' from this year.

anju@thehindu.co.in

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