Sizeable populace from Japan to descend upon Gujarat with number of industrial projects being launched

GANDHINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's love for Japan is likely to manifest into a mini Japan in Gujarat. In five years, a sizeable populace from Japan is likely to descend upon the state as a number of big and small-ticket industrial projects have been launched.

The Japanese Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise ( MSME) industrial park at Vitthalpur village is coming up in 120 hectares near the proposed Suzuki Motors plant. The park is being developed by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) wherein four Japanese companies — MA Extrusion India, ROKI Minda Company, Toyota Forms India and TS Tech Company — have acquired land. The GIDC has begun infrastructure development works worth Rs 158 crore to facilitate the park.

Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA) has agreed in principle to undertake modernization of the Alang ship-breaking yard at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore.

Modi's bonhomie with Japan has been a long-standing affair. Gujarat dominates 40% of the geographical area covered under the ambitious India-Japan bilateral project — Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and Dedicated Freight Corridor. Japan has also been the official country partner in the previous three Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summits. This time too, Japan is one of seven partner countries.

That apart, Japanese corporate giants like Suzuki Motors, Honda Motors, Hitachi and several others are soon to set shop in Gujarat. The Gujarat government has requested the Centre for a soft loan of Rs 5,968 crore from JICA for the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro project which is likely to earn a positive response. Then there is the Swarnim Dahejspring Desalination Private Limited, an SPV which promises to be a major water source for the region. It was formed in 2012 by a Japanese consortium of Hitachi, Hyflux and Itochu. The same consortium has also begun developing Dahej as a smart city.