'Manufacturing Policy aims at more GDP contribution'

HYDERABAD: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Saturday said the proposed 'National Manufacturing Policy' aims at increasing contribution of manufacturing to the national GDP from current 16 per cent to 25-26 per cent by 2025 and of creating 100 million jobs in the next decade.

Sharma said that a high-level meeting comprising of prime minister, finance minister and other cabinet ministers, was held two days ago in Delhi on the new policy.

"The day before the prime minister chaired a high-level meeting in which finance minister, I, minister for corporate affairs and other ministers and all the key secretaries of government of India were present.

The aim is to take our manufacturing from the present 16 per cent share in the GDP to 25-26 per cent in a decade's time and to generate 100 million jobs (in next decade) and 200 million jobs by 2025," Sharma told media persons here.

He said the government was mulling to create industrial corridors in southern parts of the country on the similar lines of the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor.

Replying to question on allowing rice exports, the minster said the government was aware of the position of food grains stock in the country which is at comfortable levels.

He, however, said the Group of Ministers (GoM) will meet soon to take the stock of the situation.

"We are close to double what we are required to keep (food grains). But we are working on Food Security Act. Therefore, adequate amounts have to be kept once that food commitment to the nation happens.

Some extent of exports have been allowed. And the situation is carefully monitored," he said.