Gujarat CM seeks investment in defence, biotech, auto sectors

“India Inc is happy with the government’s policies and looking at more investment in the state’s growth plans,” the BJP leader said. Rupani stressed on defence and aerospace as key sectors of growth, with intention of setting up manufacturing facilities. Marine, ship-building, agro-food processing, textiles and diamonds are some of the other focus sectors, he said. Rupani also announced that policies for biotech, healthcare, defence and aerospace will be finalised in the coming week. The summit will be held between January 10-13 next year in Gandhinagar.

Rupani said he met industrialists and business leaders Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Ratan Tata, Ajay Piramal, Harsh Goenka, Niranjan Hiranandani, Rana Kapoor and NSE’s Chitra Ramakrishna and discussed business prospects on Tuesday. These leaders will not only partner and attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, but also take advantage of the myriad business opportunities that the state has to offer. The event in Mumbai received an overwhelming participation of over 450 businessmen representing top companies, the chief minister claimed.

He also highlighted the opportunity for the industry to invest in Gujarat International Finance Tec City (GIFT-City), Mandal Becharaji SIR, Dahej, PCPIR and Dholera Special Investment Region, one of the biggest investment zones on the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Gujarat is emerging as one of Asia’s largest automobile and auto component hubs, he added. Gujarat is fast emerging as a manufacturing and an R&D hub, with major private players like Tata, Ford, Honda two wheelers and Suzuki setting up or being in the process of setting up their plants in the state, said Rupani.

The state has a sound base of 30 clusters comprising castings, brass parts, oil engines and electric motors, bearings, auto-ancillaries, he added. The GIFT City will be the country’s first multi-functional SEZ which will be a hub for the share market, capital markets and the banking sector. Spread over more than 102 sq km, Mandal Becharaji Special
Investment Region (MBSIR) is new industrial hub being planned in Gujarat near Ahmedabad.

Envisaged by the Gujarat government, MBSIR is one of its kind industrial hub and will compromise automobile, manufacturing and auxiliary industries. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Maruti Suzuki India have plants located in MBSIR. The summit will also witness the first ever Nobel Laureates Exhibition and Symposium. The Department of Science and Technology has received 11 confirmations from Nobel Laureates, including the likes of Harold E Varmus, William E Moerner, Randy Schekman, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Ada Yonath and David Gross. Nearly, 11 countries and 4 partner organisations have already signed up to partner Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit
2017.