Over 50 plots already allotted in AURIC, says Mr. Naik

 

MUMBAI, 7th November 2020 (GNI):  “India’s first Greenfield Smart Industrial City, AURIC (Aurangabad Industrial City), is spread over 10,000 Acres and is being developed by the special purpose vehicle, Aurangabad Industrial Township Limited (AITL). AITL has sold more than 50 plots in this industrial city and we expect more companies to invest in the months to come. AURIC is an ideal investment destination with pre-approved environment clearance. Companies investing in this city can enjoy sound road, rail and air connectivity, single window clearance system, online application, e-land management system, reliable 24 hour power supply and effluent treatment plants, among other services,” said Mr. Amgothu Sri Ranga Naik, IAS, Managing Director, Aurangabad Industrial Township Limited at Virtual Trade Dialogue ‘Leveraging Trade Infrastructure for International Market Access and Trade Opportunities’, second in series, organized jointly by World Trade Center Mumbai, India, World Trade Center Winnipeg , Canada and World Trade Center Trieste, Italy.

Mr. Naik also highlighted the benefits of investing in Maharashtra, where the state government has made available 40,000 acre land for new industries. He said, “Maharashtra is the only state in India to offer SGST rebate on gross basis and has disbursed more than USD 600 million in lieu of various incentives during the year 2018-19. The state offers Plug and Play Infrastructure by allowing FDI investors to utilize a ready to use infrastructure, Maha Parwana – a single window clearance system for FDI investors that meet statutory norms to start operations within 48 hours, a dedicated industrial employment portal launched in July 2020 aiming to help new and potential investors employ the vast and skill rich local talent in Maharashtra across 17 sectors and 950+ job roles, along with an Investor First Programme, Earmarked Land Parcels and a Dedicated Country Desk.”

Speaking about the progressive industrial policy launched by the state in April 2019, he said the industrial policy provides fiscal incentives such as Industrial Promotion Subsidy (IPS) in the form of ‘Gross SGST’ Abatement, Stamp Duty Exemption, Electricity Duty Exemption and Power Tariff Subsidy. It also provides additional incentives for thrust sectors, green energy and Industry 4.0, and for food processing units, agro processing units and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Diane Gray, President and CEO, CentrePort Canada highlighted that CentrePort Canada is North America’s largest inland port spanning over 20,000 acres with on-site access to tri-modal transportation. It is served by three continental class I railways, has a major trucking centre with 1,000+ for-hire trucking companies, only one hour from the Canada-U.S. border, and has a 24/7 international airport for dedicated freighter aircraft movements. She further said the new residential community will support up to 8,000 employees providing green space and active living opportunities, and the region has more than 100 new companies in various stages of development.

Ms. Gray remarked that CentrePort Canada Rail Park is a 665 acre rail park that will combine industrial space with logistics infrastructure to serve companies who ship by rail. The Inland Port Special Planning Area (CentrePort North) expedites the planning and land-development approval process, enables companies to move through the subdivision and rezoning applications concurrently and has quick turnaround times – two weeks for building permits and three months for full subdivision and rezoning process.

Representing World Trade Center Trieste, Italy, Ms. Rita Gollino, Corporate Development Manager of Samer & Co. Shipping explained how the Port of Trieste in Italy can be a gateway for Indian companies to the European market. She pointed out that the Port of Trieste can be a strategic geographical location with intermodal connectivity, 18-meter draft and a customs free port. She suggested that by taking the Suez-Trieste route, one can save four days of navigation time, travelling at an average speed of 20 knots.

Ms. Gollino briefed the benefits of the Port of Trieste as a Free Trade Zone with benefits such as unrestricted access and transit of goods, deferred payment of taxes and duties, reduced port taxes, unlimited storage, free overseas export and on‐site goods processing. She further remarked that Freeway Trieste is a high‐tech industrial innovation hub inside a customs‐free zone, attracting innovative businesses through applied industrial research, requiring shipping and logistics, on a hub and spoke model.

In his Welcome Address, Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai said that opportunities arising out of the global realignment post COVID-19 can be explored by engaging with trade and investment hubs such as CentrePort Canada, the Port of Trieste and AURIC in India. AURIC can play a vital role in promoting industries in the agro, engineering, auto and textile sectors, among others.

Mr. Kalantri further remarked that World Trade Center Mumbai is always at the forefront to promote Indian MSMEs on the global trade map, and has been continuously engaging with various national and international organizations, even during the pandemic, to highlight the plethora of business opportunities arising from increasing engagement across various regions representing varied industrial services and sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Derek Earl, Vice President, World Trade Center Winnipeg said that we are navigating through unprecedented times, and we need a network of trusted partners to address this crisis. Mr. Earl shared details about the Trade Accelerator programme, which is one of the impactful initiative of World Trade Center Winnipeg to guide business enterprises on export planning, market entry strategies, trade and investment opportunities.

Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai proposed Vote of Thanks.

The programme was attended by MSMEs, industry representatives, consular corps and members of the academia from the participating countries. Ends