CII bats for setting up of sector-wise task forces to speed up growth

Visakhapatnam The Confederation of Indian Industry (Southern Region) has called for establishing sector-wise joint task forces with government & industry with CII as an anchor to accelerate growth.

With the rolling out of vaccination drive to fight against COVID-19, CII has exuded confidence that the industries will see bright scope for revival in the post-pandemic phase while urging the government to take sufficient steps to tackle the threat of third wave.

While expressing concern at coal shortage affecting production in steel and other sectors, CII office-bearers sought steps to overcome the situation. They wanted allocation of special funds by the States to revamp healthcare infrastructure.

In an interaction with the media in virtual mode on Friday, C.K. Ranganathan, Chairman, CII Southern Region made a detailed presentation on CII initiatives in the southern region in general and particularly in Andhra Pradesh. CII Southern Region is focusing on the theme Building South India for a new world competitiveness, growth, sustainability, and technology.

He said the implementation of the theme is broadly under the focus areas of policy & regulatory excellence, enhancing core competitiveness, protecting lives and livelihood and membership engagement.

Ranganathan said the COVID-19 interventions are focusing at the region and State level in areas such as vaccination, augmenting medical supplies including oxygen, ICU beds, ventilators and other relief measures. As part of policy engagement CII is actively engaged with States on structural reforms in areas such as labour, infrastructure & agriculture.

With regard to preparing for the third wave, Ranganathan said that CII urges the State Governments to create special funds to ramp up healthcare infrastructure. He felt that immediate requirements should be identified district-wise and implementation should be in a mission mode. CII also supported industry members to engage in vaccination drives in the neighbouring areas of the factory premises.

He asked the government to focus on creation of sufficient 360 degree healthcare infrastructure across the State including hinterland (hospitals, ventilators, ICU beds, oxygen capacity, medical staff etc). "Establish a preparatory plan of action for the third wave in order to save life and protect the livelihood of people," he appealed to the authorities.

COVID-19 has deeply impacted demand across many sectors. The second wave has dented the first signs of recovery seen during the beginning of the year. It is equally important to look at defining measures across most affected sectors on how demand could be generated.

Among others, Datla Tirupati Raju, CII Chairman and Executive Chairman of Vijay Nagar Biotech Pvt. Ltd and Neeraj Sarda, Vice Chairman, CII, AP and Deputy Managing Director, Sarda Metals & Alloys Ltd also took part in the interaction.

In his remarks, Tirupati Raju said CII AP members are actively involved in supporting local communities by providing required medical equipment during the first and second waves of pandemic. CII AP, he said, continues to promote the State as the best investment destination and appreciated the Government of Andhra Pradesh for releasing pending incentives to industry despite revenue shortage caused by the pandemic.

The recent release of Rs.684 crores to textile and spinning mills will improve the cash flow for companies operating in the textile sector, he felt. Referring to the State Government's ReSTART package, he said that it helped the industry to restart their operations.

Sarda said the reforms in labour laws will drive growth and be beneficial to all stakeholders. In the post-COVID-19 scenario, the reforms towards privatisation in various sectors have provided much needed impetus to the manufacturing sector, he opined.