Bhubaneswar, Jan. 15: The Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (UCCI), an apex body of industry representatives in the state, has urged the state government to consider a new industrial policy.

The chamber proposed that the industry associations should draft a new policy. A six-point memorandum by the chamber was submitted to chief minister Naveen Patnaik for his consideration during the launch of the golden jubilee celebrations of the UCCI on Tuesday.

“The present industrial policy resolution is seven years old. Industry associations of the state should be asked to prepare a new policy that could be modified and amended by the state government to suit the state’s policies. By allowing us to do the job, the state government can take pride in the fact that, for the first time in India, an industry policy of a state has been drafted by the industry bodies,” said president of UCCI Ramesh Mahapatra.

The demands included creation of a separate corporation under the MSME department for development of industrial estates. The focus of Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has changed over the years. Its emphasis is on procurement of land for mega and large industries and also for undertaking contract works. A separate corporation will meet the requirement,” said Mahapatra

The chief minister said that the state had become a preferred destination of industries on the strength of its good governance.

“We have been able to rope in more than 90 globally reputed investors across sectors such as steel, aluminum, cement, power, petroleum and many others. The state government has taken several policy initiatives to catalyse industrial growth,” he said adding that the state is fast emerging as a hub for education, IT (information technology), software and healthcare facilities and urban infrastructure of international repute.