Nitish Kumar's Government Focuses on Employment and Industrial Growth in Bihar
Bihar's Commitment to Industrial Development
Following his tenth oath-taking as Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar is actively pursuing initiatives aimed at enhancing employment and industrial growth in Bihar. He recently shared on social media that his administration is dedicated to fostering job creation and boosting the industrial sector in the state. In his post, Kumar emphasized the necessity of large-scale industrialization for rapid economic development and job generation in any state. Since 2005, the number of industrial sectors in Bihar has surged from 46 to an anticipated 94 by 2025.
Significant Growth in Industrial Units
The Chief Minister noted that the count of industrial units has escalated from 1,674 in 2005 to a projected 3,500 by 2025. Additionally, the export of industrial products from Bihar, which stood at a mere ₹25 crore in 2005, is expected to reach ₹17,000 crore by 2025. The number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has also seen a remarkable increase, rising from 72,000 in 2005 to 3.5 million by 2025. The contribution of industries to Bihar's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected to grow from 5.4% in 2005 to over 21% by 2025, reflecting the government's commitment to industrial advancement.
Plans for Attracting Investment
To position Bihar among the top five investment-friendly states in India, the industry department plans to host investor conferences in major commercial hubs worldwide. The government has initiated a strategy to attract ₹50 lakh crore in investments over the next five years. This plan includes enhancing the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), establishing five new mega food parks with modern food processing and logistics facilities, developing ten industrial parks, and creating 100 MSME parks. Furthermore, the initiative aims to train seven lakh individuals in industry-relevant skills and entrepreneurship.
Support for Entrepreneurs
Under the Chief Minister's Entrepreneur Scheme, a total of 44,073 entrepreneurs have received financial incentives, enabling them to start their own businesses and create numerous job opportunities. To transform Bihar into a new tech hub in Eastern India, plans are underway for the establishment of a Defense Corridor, Semiconductor Manufacturing Park, Global Capability Center, Mega Tech City, and Fintech City. A high-level committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of these initiatives and ensure continuous monitoring.
Integrated Manufacturing Clusters and Infrastructure Development
The Chief Minister mentioned that the establishment of an Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) in Dobhi, Gaya, covering approximately 1,700 acres, is progressing rapidly and will soon be inaugurated. Additionally, 31 new state-of-the-art industrial parks will be developed across 14,036 acres in 29 districts, including ten sector-specific parks such as textile and pharma parks. A total of ₹26,000 crore will be invested in accelerating industrial development in the state. Bihar now boasts quality infrastructure for industrial establishment, including well-connected roads, railways, and airports, along with uninterrupted power supply. The rule of law is firmly established, and the law and order situation has significantly improved, ensuring that the youth of Bihar do not have to leave the state in search of employment.