Bihar’s Minister for Industries pitches for footwear and textile investment

Speaking at investors meet organised by the state’s department of Industries during the recently held India International Footwear Fair at Bharat Mandapam, Bihar’s Minister of Industries and Sports, Shreyasi Singh, made a strong appeal to business leaders to consider Bihar as their next investment destination. Highlighting the state’s potential, Singh presented a roadmap focused on expanding industrial production, building modern infrastructure, and delivering long-term policy support.

Addressing the gathering, Singh noted that public perception of Bihar often remains shaped by negative narratives on social media rather than ground realities. She reassured potential investors about the state’s law and order, stating that safety concerns are unfounded and that the government has created a secure, stable environment for businesses to set up and expand operations without friction. She appealed them to visit the state and see for themselves.

The minister underscored the rapid development of physical and digital infrastructure across the state. She pointed out that ongoing improvements in road networks, airport connectivity, and inland waterways are improving logistics for freight and regional commerce. Having highlighted the state’s strong leather and textiles policy, she also pointed out how Bihar is growing in the software sector. Simultaneously, Bihar is making strides in the software and digital infrastructure domain, strengthening communication networks and establishing digital platforms to assist industrial expansion.

A major focus of the address was the state’s industrial ecosystem, which is already taking shape through dedicated manufacturing hubs. Industrial clusters such as the Muzaffarpur Bag Cluster and the Mega Leather & Footwear Accessories Park at Mahwal are providing investors with ready-to-use plug-and-play facilities, dedicated power supply, and common facility centres. Additionally, a greenfield leather processing cluster is being developed in Kishanganj to support tanneries with central environmental treatment facilities.

Detailing the features of the state's Leather and Textile Policy, Singh described it as one of the most competitive frameworks in the country today. “We can claim with confidence that no other state in India has as attractive and investor-friendly a leather and textile policy as Bihar does. We emphasize the fact that Bihar’s leather and textile policy is the best and most powerful in the country.”

The policy offers generous capital subsidies, lands on long-term lease virtually free of cost, power tariffs tailored for industrial scale, employment-linked financial incentives designed to lower setting-up costs and improve operational viability.

Closing her address, Singh urged industry leaders to join hands with Bihar in its next phase of economic growth. “I have no doubt that Bihar will soon be one of the fastest-growing states across all industrial sectors. I urge you to partner with Bihar as we embark on this new growth journey. Together, we will not only build the leather industry in India, but also help build Bihar.” She noted that partnerships formed today will not only help establish Bihar as a major manufacturing state, but will also help build and scale India’s broader leather and footwear manufacturing capabilities on the international stage.