Date:01/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/08/01/stories/2005080101810500.htm

Back Rural business hubs to be set up

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The newly set up Rural Business Hub Council has decided to set up 10 rural business hubs (RBH) as pilot project as part of a proposal for synergy between panchayats and industry in developing business units in rural India. It was also decided at a meeting of the council here that the Confederation of Indian Industry will set up 50 RBHs in 10 States in the second stage.

These will be developed on the Chinese model of RBH utilising locally available material of blocks or districts of the States by industrial houses using value addition and technology. Linkages will also be provided for urban and export markets through exhibitions and buying houses.

The financial needs of the hubs will be met by loans from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) grants besides funding from industrial groups.