Shimla
Himachal Pradesh is poised to roll out a new industrial policy aimed at attracting fresh investment, generating employment and strengthening the state’s business ecosystem, with the government indicating that the policy is in its final stages and will be notified shortly.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Industries Department, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the forthcoming policy has been designed to position Himachal Pradesh as a more competitive investment destination while ensuring balanced and sustainable industrial growth across the state.
The Chief Minister said the government has held extensive consultations with stakeholders to ensure the policy addresses the needs of both existing industries and prospective investors. According to him, the objective is to create a transparent, industry-friendly framework that encourages entrepreneurship while supporting long-term economic development.
A key focus of the new policy, he said, will be improving the ease of doing business through simplified regulations and streamlined administrative procedures. The government is also strengthening the state’s single-window clearance mechanism to enable investors to secure approvals more efficiently and reduce procedural delays.
The Chief Minister noted that several administrative and legal reforms introduced over the past three-and-a-half years have already laid the foundation for a more investor-friendly environment. These measures, he said, are intended to make setting up and operating businesses in Himachal Pradesh faster, more transparent and less cumbersome.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also reviewed progress on two of the state’s flagship industrial infrastructure projects—the Bulk Drug Park at Una and the Unity Mall under construction in Dharamshala.
Describing the Bulk Drug Park as a transformational initiative for Himachal Pradesh’s industrial landscape, he directed officials to accelerate the pace of work and actively engage with leading pharmaceutical companies across the country to encourage investment in the project.
The ₹2,071-crore Bulk Drug Park is expected to emerge as one of the state’s largest industrial investments, with the government anticipating significant employment opportunities for local youth once the project becomes operational. Officials informed the meeting that nearly 800 bighas of land have already been levelled and site development activities are progressing rapidly.
The Chief Minister instructed departments to ensure that critical infrastructure, including the common effluent treatment plant and steam generation facility, is completed within the prescribed timeline to keep the project on schedule.
Reviewing the progress of the Unity Mall project in Dharamshala, the Chief Minister said the first instalment of ₹66 crore has already been released and groundwork at the site is underway. The project is expected to provide a dedicated platform for showcasing Himachal Pradesh’s traditional products, handicrafts and local enterprises while promoting tourism and regional commerce.
The meeting also focused on the government’s proposed “One District, Three Products” initiative, which aims to identify and promote district-specific products with strong market potential. The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the identification process, saying the programme would strengthen the rural economy by creating new livelihood opportunities, encouraging local entrepreneurship and improving incomes for farming and artisan communities.
The government believes that promoting region-specific products alongside industrial expansion will ensure that economic growth extends beyond urban centres and benefits rural areas as well.
The review reflects the state’s broader strategy of combining industrial investment with rural development, infrastructure creation and employment generation. With the new industrial policy expected to be notified soon, the government hopes to attract fresh capital while positioning Himachal Pradesh as an emerging destination for manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and sustainable enterprise.