ITC keen to establish food park in Ludhiana

Business major ITC on Friday evinced interest in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Punjab government for establishing a food park in Ludhiana, besides stating that it was committed to establishing four luxury hotels in Punjab under its brand name.





This assurance was given by ITC chairman YC Deveshwar and executive director Kurush Grant during a meeting with a state government team led by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at the ITC Green Centre in Gurgaon.



The deputy CM told the ITC management that the government was taking proactive steps to invite investment into the state, adding that besides agro processing and hotels, ITC could also invest in the information technology (IT) sector in Mohali.



\"We have 600 acres of land available alongside the upcoming international airport and we are ready to give out parcels to leading companies in the quickest possible time to give a kickstart to the IT industry in Punjab,\" he added.



Kurush Grant said the company was contemplating establishing a food park which would manufacture biscuits, juices and confectionery products on 30 acres in Ludhiana district.



Sukhbir said the state government could engage ITC to connect e-service centres proposed to be established in more than 12,000 villages in the state in the next six months with their e-chaupal programme. The programme offers advice on agriculture-related issues to farmers. Badal also urged ITC to consider participating in the textile hub being established by the government.



Sukhbir also visited the Ranbaxy headquarters in Gurgaon and held discussions with its top management, including chairman Dr Tsutomu Une and CEO Arun Sawhney.



The Ranbaxy CEO informed the deputy CM that the company was keen on expansion in Punjab as it would soon run out of capacity. He said the company was looking forward to support from the state government.



The deputy CM was accompanied by chief parliamentary secretary NK Sharma and senior officers, including housing secretary Venu Prasad and industries secretary Karan Avtar Singh.
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