Slew of projects for city

Also,Pune will be a beneficiary of the eight proposed integrated industrial clusters — a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation project to promote smallscale industries cluster networking and cluster development.

At an interaction organised by Mahratta Chamber of Commerce,Industries and Agriculture,the minister said the Centre has identified Maharashtra among five states where e-governance projects would be launched on a pilot basis.

“This will be done in association with Infosys and later rolled out across the country over nine years.”

He said his ministry was in favour of setting up a world-class international exhibition centre in Pune and would extend all support for the proposed project in Moshi. “There is a need for world-class exhibition centres,to organise conventions and attract more foreign players. A Central team will visit Pune to discuss the project.”

Assuring the Pune Inc. that its concerns about exports and manufacturing will be addressed while formulating foreign trade policy,he said a series of meetings have already been held with various stakeholders. “The foreign trade policy will address the need of the manufacturing sector. I will hold a meeting with the Finance Minister soon and discuss the need for continuation of incentives. The export sector of the country has to grow globally competitive.”

He called for deeper economic engagement with other parts of the world. “At present,we cannot wait for the economic crisis to be over but have to turn challenges into opportunities. India was largely insulated and the two packages had helped the industry as a whole.”