Nestle urged to adopt collective strategy in Haryana

by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 27

With a view to boosting production of milk and milk products, Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda has urged Nestle India Limited to adopt a collective and collaborative strategy with Animal Husbandry Department, Dairy Federation and private sectors to set up milk collection centres in the entire State.

          Mr Hooda said this after inaugurating second unit of Nestle at Samalkha in district Panipat today.

          Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hooda said that this would be a win-win situation for both the farmers and the investors. He also commended initiative taken by Nestle for working very closely with farmers in the State and for transfer of technology and know-how to increase productivity and quality of milk in a sustainable manner, and also for imparting nutrition knowledge to young students in village schools under Global Healthy Kids Programme.

          He said that Nestle's presence in India is about 100 years old. He said that over these years, Nestle India Limited has grown into one of the most accepted brands in the foods and beverages sector in India. Today it is a household name synonymous with chocolates, milk products and instant coffee and its product ‘Maggi Noodles’ is favourite food of children as well as adults, he added.

          He said that this second unit of Nestle costing about Rs 600 crore would prove beneficial not only for the State, but for the entire country. He said that Haryana was transforming from an agrarian State into a vibrant industrial economy and is eventually positioning itself as one of the leading States in the country. He said that economic growth of Haryana had been quite sound ever since its creation with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 per cent during the period from 1966-67 to 2004-05. He said that during the past seven years, the growth has been particularly spectacular. The State economy grew at an average annual growth rate of 9.4 per cent, which was much higher than the rate of growth of our national economy.

          He said that though Haryana was geographically a small State which accounts for only 1.3 per cent of the total area of the country, yet its contribution in the National Gross Domestic Product was nearly 3.4 per cent. He said that Haryana was a leading State in the country in terms of per capita income. The exports from Haryana have crossed Rs. 48,530 crore during the year 2010-11. The State had catalysed investments worth Rs. 61,000 crore since 2005 and investments of about Rs. 97,000 crore were in the pipeline.

          He said that the state government had decided to give a further impetus to economic development of the State through revamping the infrastructure, favourable business environment through friendly policies and creating a pool of skilled manpower. He said that creation of quality infrastructure had been our special focus and we were constantly striving to improve connectivity, ensure quality power supply, water supply and provide effective logistics support to the industry.

          He said that the state had reviewed its regulatory institutions and implemented frameworks that were rule based and aligned to the legitimate needs and aspirations of people of the state and stakeholders alike. Also, the state government ensures that the industry moves ahead with confidence and the state plays the role of a facilitator, he added.