Google offers free online advertising for SMEs in Punjab

Witnessing increasing economic growth in recent years, Chandigarh, Union Territory and Punjab’s capital, is targeting to get 1000 MW power by 2018.

Also, Punjab’s Industrial Policy-2009 has given special impetus to IT and agro-based industries in order to attract more investments to promote the economic health of the state.

Google enables free advertising for SMEs
In order to encourage the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Google India has announced a special initiative to help entrepreneurs start their online advertising campaign on Google's Ad Words platform for free.

Launching this all-India initiative in Punjab, Google India's head of on-line sales Sridhar Seshadri said, "Small and medium businesses have always wanted to advertise to get more business but that option has consistently remained beyond their reach because of the high costs associated."

He further said that with this initiative, the small entrepreneurs could start advertising with a budget as low as Rs 200 per day and grow it as per their business demand.

Seshadri also said that with Punjab being the hub of small entrepreneurial businesses, Google India wants to provide the entrepreneurs here with an opportunity to try out online advertising options and see the results for themselves.

The combined benefits of online medium and Google Adwords platform will enable the SMEs to derive maximum business growth.

Chandigarh aims to make provision for 1000 MW power by 2018
As Chandigarh is emerging as a hub in north India for business, government, trade, education and health sectors, the power demand of the city has also been increasing rapidly in recent years.

Reportedly, nearly 318 MW power was utilized in the city this year. However, the administration is expecting that the demand will go beyond 400 MW by 2011-12. To cope with the rising demand, the administration is planning to make arrangements for the power supply of another 1,000 MW by 2018.

“Efforts are under way for long-term tie-ups with some central power projects to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Chandigarh. Looking at the power needs of the UT (union territory) in the next 10 years, the Chandigarh administration is making arrangements for the supply of another 1,000 MW by 2018,” said Chandigarh's Finance-cum-Engineering Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

Recently, the administration has also introduced rotational power supply cuts ranging from one to two hours in different parts of the city to save electricity.

Punjab industrial policy favors IT and agro industry
To attract new investments in the state, Punjab government has laid special emphasis on promoting IT, agro and knowledge-based industries in its new Industrial Policy-2009.

The driving force of the new industrial policy-2009 would be to facilitate potential investors to invest in the private sector under public-private partnership (PPP) mode, create Dedicated Fund for the development clusters, Common Facilities Centres, and provide infrastructure to different industries, informed Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister, Manoranjan Kalia.

Kalia said, “To attract new investments, anchor units having scope for ancillary would be given concessions on case to case basis. Also, approval for change of land use from agriculture to industry would not be required. Besides, the industrial component of Industrial Park would be exempted from CLUE charges and license fee.”

In addition to this, the government has allocated a dedicated fund of Rs.150 crore per annum for creation and up-gradation of industrial infrastructure.