Chief Minister lays foundation stone of ‘Himachal Haat’ in Shimla
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone of the ‘Himachal Haat’ near the Lift in Shimla, to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2 crore. The project aims to create a vibrant marketplace showcasing authentic Himachali products and promoting income generation, identity, and self-reliance among rural entrepreneurs, especially women Self Help Groups (SHGs) working under the HIMIRA brand.
The upcoming Himachal Haat will feature a modern tensile structure with 24 to 25 shops allotted to SHGs from all 12 districts of the State. It will provide a single platform for rural art, craft, handloom, handicraft, food processing items, and traditional Himachali cuisines. The initiative seeks to establish a permanent marketing and livelihood centre for women-led SHGs.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government remains committed to empowering women SHGs and strengthening the rural economy by promoting products under the HIMIRA brand. He highlighted that sales under the brand have already generated Rs. 25 lakh in income, which is expected to increase substantially. Additionally, food vans provided to SHGs have been helping them earn around Rs. 50,000 per month, with plans to distribute 60 more vans soon.
He added that the government is investing in infrastructure upgrades in Shimla, including a Rs. 145 crore utility duct project to shift power lines underground, alongside initiatives to ensure uninterrupted water and electricity supply. The ongoing conversion of the Circular Road into a double-lane route will help decongest traffic. The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh stated that the Himachal Haat project reflects the Chief Minister’s vision of empowering rural women through sustainable self-reliance. The 4,000 square-foot facility is targeted for completion within eight months. He thanked Mayor Surender Chauhan and the Municipal Corporation Shimla for providing land for the project.
Among those present on the occasion were MLAs Harish Janartha and Suresh Kumar, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Mayor Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Narender Kanwar, Secretary Rajesh Sharma, Director Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Raghav Sharma, and CEO SRLM Shivam Pratap Singh.
Himachal Pradesh recognized as ‘Top Achiever’ under BRAP-2024
Himachal Pradesh has been honoured as a ‘Top Achiever State’ under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP)-2024, instituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India. The award was presented by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal during the Udyog Samagam-2025 in New Delhi.
Principal Resident Commissioner Ajay Yadav and Rachit Sharma, General Manager of the District Industries Centre, Sirmaur, received the award on behalf of the State Government. Himachal Pradesh achieved this distinction for its exemplary performance in three major reform categories—construction permit enablers, sector-specific healthcare, and services sector reforms. The State was evaluated across 25 reform areas and secured an impressive 98 percent score, reflecting widespread implementation and stakeholder satisfaction across 434 reform points.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the government is committed to delivering efficient investor services and has introduced several investor-friendly initiatives in the past three years to build a transparent, efficient, and supportive business environment. He said that this recognition affirms the State’s consistent progress toward reform-oriented governance and an industry-driven growth model.
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan remarked that the recognition reflects the Chief Minister’s industry-centric vision and reform-focused governance. He noted that the State has established a transparent and technology-enabled administrative framework that translates policy reforms into tangible benefits for entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) R.D. Nazim emphasized that Himachal Pradesh’s success demonstrates a structured and sustainable reform trajectory. He highlighted that the Integrated Online Single Window System now provides over 150 services online, simplifying approvals and strengthening investor facilitation.