The government set up a high-level board to boost the manufacturing sector. The panel will be headed by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma. The decision to set up the board comes within days of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh set up the Investment Tracking System to give a push to mega projects of over 1,000 crore rupees in the backdrop of economic growth sliding to nine-year low of 6.5 per cent in 2011-12. The 13-member Manufacturing Industry promotion Board (MIPB), would periodically review the overall situation of the manufacturing sector, which contracted to 0.3 per cent during the quarter ending March 31, from 7.3 per cent in the corresponding period of 2010-11.The MIPB, set up to give a big push to operationalise the National manufacturing Policy ,NMP, would also coordinate among central ministries and state governments. The government has formed three more panels for the proper implementation of the NMP. The policy seeks to raise share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP to 25 per cent from the present 15-16 per cent in the next decade.