Gandhinagar:

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has handed over a memorandum of suggestions to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and other ministers for consideration in the forthcoming budget of FY 2018-19 which includes among others requests to abolish the professional tax in the state and making a new revival, rehabilitation and takeover scheme for the sick units of MSME sector with a fund of Rs 1000 crore.

It has also made requests regarding setting up of International Airports in the diamond city of Surat as well as in rapidly Industrialized Kutch district.

In the memorandum it has been suggested that the professional tax system in Gujarat was not in practice in many neighbouring states. Terming it an additional burden on the Industry and businesses in Gujarat the GCCI suggested that it should be abolished for ease of doing business in the state.

It said that MSME sector was a major employment giver but the increasing sickness of such units was matter of concern. The government should start new revival, rehabilitation and takeover scheme for the sick units of MSME sector with a fund of Rs 1000 crore as the steps taken by banks for revival of such units were proving to be insufficient.

The Chamber has also suggested starting of startup fund for new entrepreneurs, provision of upfront subsidy for environment friendly units, start of e-commerce courses and training center for Industrial skills, making appropriated changes in CM Mission on Food Processing Scheme 2016, starting the 16 GIDCs and other vertical GIDCs, Rs 700 crore Vadodara convention center announced in earlier budget.

It has also suggested the government to make provisions of purchase of a certain percentage of goods from the MSME units in the state whenever a big Industrial unit was established in the state. The assistance for roof top solar power plant in tier 2 cities should be expanded. There should be provision of subsidy for technological development of food processing units.

The GCCI has also sought exemption of bank based financial transactions of businesses from the definition of money lending under the Gujarat Money Lending Act 2011.

DeshGujarat