Czech Republic, Punjab to explore energy, biomass tieups - See more at: http://www.eai.in/360/news/pages/12045#sthash.EuOrQrDP.dpuf

The Czech Republic's ambassador to India, Miloslav Stasek, on Wednesday called on Punjab industries minister Madan Mohan Mittal and discussed various issues related to close cooperation in the sectors of renewable energy, biomass and water treatment. Stasek told Mittal a Czech delegation will visit Punjab in May to discuss the potential of establishing joint venture projects in these fields, a spokesman later said. The ambassador also said the Czech Republic was conducting research on making construction materials from paddy straw. Mittal discussed the initiatives taken by the Punjab government to produce energy from agricultural waste, mentioning the 250 MW solar energy plants that had been recently sanctioned. He stated that the state had recently announced fiscal incentives under the new industrial policy, in which up to 90 per cent VAT and CST, property tax and stamp duty retention was given to industrial units investing Rs. 1 crore and above. He also sought the Czech Republic's cooperation to improve the standard of technical education in Punjab. http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/czech-republic-punjab-to-explore-energy-biomass-tieups/article1-1188691.aspx