Chinese explore setting up industrial parks in UP, Haryana

NEW DELHI: A high-powered Chinese delegation visiting India will meet senior officials of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh this week to explore opportunities for setting up industrial parks in these states.

The official delegation is here ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 5-day visit to China and Russia this week, starting today.

"A Chinese delegation which comprises experts from sectors like banks, water, power, tourism and agriculture are already here."

"They have met DIPP officials here and will meet state government officials of UP and Haryana," an official told PTI. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is under the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

The Chinese proposal to set up industrial parks is at a "preliminary" stage, the official said.

"The matter may figure in the meeting of Singh and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang," the official said, adding that the Chinese are interested in cluster-type development of enterprises.

Besides stepping up two-way investments, India and China have set a trade target of $100 billion by 2015.

In 2012-13, India's trade deficit with China stood at about $39 billion. India's exports were only $13.53 billion, while the imports were worth $52.24 billion.

During the visit of Keqiang to India in May, a joint statement had said that the two sides expressed willingness to carry out cooperation on establishing industrial zones so as to provide platforms for cluster-type development of enterprises of the two countries.

The essential characteristics of enterprises in a cluster are commonality in the methods of production, quality control and testing, energy conservation and pollution control.

As for inflows, between April 2000 and July 2013, India has received only $282.38 million in Foreign Direct Investment from China.