Shimla, April 10 (Inditop) Food products major Nestle India wants to set up a food and beverage manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh, according to a senior government official.
“Nestle has shown keen interest in establishing a unit here, and plans to invest about Rs.400 crore,” Principal Secretary (Industry) S.C. Negi told IANS.
“Nestle has submitted a proposal. The government is now helping it identify the project site,” Negi said, adding: “More than 1,000 people will be provided direct employment.”
According to him, industrial areas in Baddi in Solan district or Tahliwal in Una district would be ideal for the company.
“The state industrial department has offered plots in Solan and Una industrial areas. It’s up to Nestle to take the final decision,” Negi said.
Nestle India, a subsidiary of Nestle SA of Switzerland, has plants in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Goa and Tamil Nadu.
Since the announcement of the special industrial package in January 2003 by the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government at the centre, the state has attracted investment worth Rs.4,904.27 crore through 4,325 small-scale units and 199 medium and large-scale units upto December 2008.
Himachal Pradesh has 38 industrial areas and 15 industrial estates.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state is attempting to get the special package extended to 2013, as announced originally.
The current industrial package will expire in 2010.
