Northeast states review region's industrial progress

Guwahati, June 13 (IANS) The North East Industrial and Investment Policy (NEIIP) group Wednesday began a two-day meet here with central government representatives for a review of the policy for the region's industrial development.

The mid-term review of the policy initiated in 2007 is expected to suggest policy changes and is being attended by the secretaries to the industry departments of all the northeastern states.

The industries ministers of the states concerned are to attend on the concluding day Thursday.

"This mid-term review has been convened in order to review the working of NEIIPP and to bring about further improvement," said a statement issued by the Assam government.

Locally there has been criticism of subsidies being offered under the NEIIP to industries over the perception that industry was not passing on benefits availed to the consumer.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had recently pointed out that benefits under the NEIIP were going to big industries, and that they were yet to benefit small industries, which had also helped the state in generating employment.

The Assam chief minister had even warned that the government would be forced to withdraw the concessions under NEIIP to industries like cement and steel, if they failed to pass on the benefits to consumers.