TOKYO: As he pitches for greater investment from Japan, west Indian state Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Suzuki Motors Chairman Osamu Suzuki, and discussed investment opportunities in the state.
Modi took a bullet train from Tokyo to Hamamatsu, where Suzuki is headquartered, and visited its plant where he met Indian engineers working for the Japanese auto major.
During a meeting, the two discussed investment opportunities and Suzuki assured him that he would bring more industrialists to Gujarat.
Suzuki said 500 Indian workers would be trained in Japan before being deployed at its Gujarat plant, said a statement from Gujarat’s information office.
During his four-day visit, Modi highlighted the investment friendly environment in Gujarat and cited examples of Bombardier and Nano to illustrate the swift system of clearances in the state.
Modi also tried his hand at playing the Japanese musical instrument Koto as he attended a lunch hosted for him.
Earlier in Tokyo, Modi had condemned recent violence at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant, stating such incidents should not happen anywhere in the world.
He also met Japanese Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and discussed with him high speed Metro Rail connectivity between Ahmedabad, Dholera and Bhavanagar, as well as air connectivity between Tokyo and Ahmedabad to make visits from Japan to investment destinations in his state easier.
Political stability
Speaking at an investment seminar of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) here, Modi said political stability has ensured policy consistency in the west Indian state of Gujarat helping investments pour in to the state.
Two Japanese Special Economic Zones – a Hitachi plant at Dahej and Maruti Suzuki’s car-manufacturing project in Mehsana district – are coming up in the state, said Modi.
“The people of Gujarat are extremely mature and due to political stability, there is consistency in policy, which increases confidence and investment in Gujarat,” he said.
Highlighting the potential in terms of economic ties between Gujarat and Japan, Modi said his government wants to create a “mini Japan” in the state.
“Japan has strength of experience; Gujarat has a power of enterprise. Japan has technology; Gujarat has a talent to absorb it. Japan has a keenness of discipline; Gujarat has zeal of performance. We can change not only Asia’s but world’s future together,” Modi said.
The Gujarat Chief Minister also said Japan’s strength lies in intelligence processes while India’s strength is in its intelligent young minds.
When combined, they can do wonders and play a major role in 21st century becoming Asia’s century, he added.
“In addition, India’s 120 crore population can make it an attractive market for almost any product,” Modi said. -PTI
