(a) whether the Government proposes to give priority to setting up of private industrial
parks to pursue industrial infrastructural development as well as to mitigate the problem of
unemployment in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is contemplating to enhance the quantum of investment of its
gross domestic product in the research and development for sustaining high growth in future: and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (DR. E.M. SUDARSANA NATCHIAPPAN)
(a): No such proposal is under consideration.
(b): Does not arise.
(c) & (d): No quantitative targets have been given in the Chapter 13 on Industry in the
12th Five Year Plan document. However, the para 8.6 of Chapter 8 on ‘Science and
Technology’, in the 12th Five Year Plan document, inter-alia, suggests desirability of
increasing R&D expenditure to 2 per cent of GDP and significantly enhancing corporate sector
R&D expenditure to at least 1 per cent of GDP by attracting investments and engaging the
corporate sector in R&D through policy and reforms processes.