Ford Motors to get 400 acres land in Sanand to set up 2nd manufacturing unit

The Gujarat government will allocate 400 acres to the US-auto maker Ford Motors to set up its second manufacturing unit in India. The Rs 5,000-crore facility will come up near Tata Nano's mother plant in Sanand, located 40 kms from Ahmedabad.

An additional 100 acre will be earmarked for the vendor park. The Gujarat government will make a formal announcement on Thursday. Joe Hinrichs, president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa and Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India will sign an MoU with the state to seal the deal. Ford's existing manufacturing facility is located in Chennai.

"In line with its long term commitment, Ford continues to pursue an aggressive growth strategy in India to bring world-class vehicles. As part of its plan to introduce eight new products by the middle of the decade, Ford is significantly expanding its capacities in its existing facility in Tamil Nadu as well as exploring other options to meet the growing demand of consumers in India and export markets across the world," Ford said in a written communication to ETon Wednesday.

Ford's move comes close on the heels of Maruti Suzuki expressing its interest to set up shop in Gujarat. Others in pipeline to make Gujarat their manufactuing desitnations include French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen, 2-wheeler manufacturer Hero Honda and Bajaj Auto.

Peugeot Citroen officials have already visited the state and are in the process to finalise the project that too would come adjoining the Tata Nano plant. A formal announcement is likely in one month. Bajaj Auto is planning to set up its fourth and largest plant near the Mundra port in Gujarat.

The plant will also manufacture passenger car the company for which it has joined hands with Nissan-Renault.

Hon'ble CM meets envoys or delegations from 29 countries, 12 foreign firms, top officials from 13 States during Global Summit-2011

In a near incredible feat of sorts, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi met foreign envoys or delegates from as many as 29 countries and top executives of 12 foreign companies over one-on-one meetings or in groups during the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2011 which concluded at Mahatma Mandir today.

One-on-One meetings were held with the delegations from Israel, Brazil, France, Mozambique and Uganda, among other countries, besides Astra Polymers of Soudi Arabia and Simagra of Spain.

Those who praised the Gujarat’s development model included National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda, ADB President Hafiz Rehman, US-India Business Alliance, Business Council from British Commonwealth, Women Parliamentarians and Legislators from the US.

They were in addition to high-level delegations from 13 States of India, office-bearers of a number of trade and industries organizations and dignitaries, who evinced keen interest to partner Gujarat in various development projects. Delegations from Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam and other North-East States were in high praise of the Vibrant Gujarat.

 

Mr. Modi was also present during the signing of MoUs in all the six seminars held today on Financial Services, Urban Development and Water Resources, Ports and Shipbuilding, Exclusive Social Business and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Speaking at the seminar on SMEs, the Chief Minister said that Gujarat is keen to harness solar energy to maximum level, and encourage setting up solar manufacturing equipment units. It is not enough to warn against climate change and discuss clean-green energy. It should be converted into action.

 

Minister of State for Industries and Energy Saurabh Patel called for intensive research on reducing the cost of generating non-conventional energy, essential to bring down the input cost of productions.

 

With growing consumption of electricity with limited sources of fossil fuels, he said, the world would have to fall back on clean and green wind, solar, tidal energy, bio-fuels like jatropha and recycling solid wastes, in the near future.

Gujarat’s Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Fakirbhai Vagehla and Principal Industries Secretary and GIDC Chairman Maheshwar Sahu were present at the seminar.

IDBI CMD R. M. Palla said that Gujarat Government’s proactive policy has resulted in unprecedented growth of the SME sector in the state. Export-Import Bank of India CMD Ranganathan said that Gujarat’s strategic geographic location maintained a high growth rate.

On the occasion, Mr. Modi presented cash awards of Rs. one lakh each in various SME sectors to Mr. Parmanand Shah of Harihar Foods of Gondal, Mr. Jaymin Vasa of Vama Pharma, Mr Iqbal Memon of IM Products of Mehsana, Mr. Kirit Gajera of Surat Engineering, among others.

The national SME award winner belonging to SC/ST Mr. Gautam Makwana was also felicitated by the Chief Minister.

Delegates from Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy and other nations attended the seminar, besides Union Energy Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Director Ashwin Kumar.

7936 MoUs, worth Rs.20.83 Lakh crore (450 billion US Dollars) signed at Vibrant Gujarat 2011 – Hon’ble CM

Gandhinagar: A staggering 7,936 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for Rs 20,83,000 crore or Rs 20.83 trillion (about $462 billion) worth of projects have been signed in the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, chief minister Narendra Modi announced at the valedictory function Thursday evening.

The investment agreements include those signed by states like Karnataka, which had used the Vibrant Gujarat platform to market its case. The investment would result in about 5.2 million additional jobs, according to Modi.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the summit, Modi said, “One important factor of this summit is that 54% of the total MoUs are signed by small and medium enterprises.”

Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has announced that 7936 MOUs (Memorandum Of Understanding) worth Rs. 20.83 lakh crore (450 billion US Dollars) have been signed during the two day Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit, that was held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. Speaking in the dazzling Valedictory function of the Summit the Chief Minister announced that at least 52 lakh employment would be generated following these MOUs.

Rs.26,000 crores to be invested in healthcare and pharma sector in Gujarat

Rs.26,000 crores will be invested in the field of healthcare in Gujarat by the national and international healthcare and pharma companies. The Health and Family Welfare Department signed various MOUs with reputed four International, 127 National Companies in the field of Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals as a part of 5th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. Out of this, investment of Rs. 15,600 Crores will be in health sector and Rs. Rs.10,686 Cr in Pharmaceuticals.

These MOUs were signed in the 5th Vibrant Gujarat Summit at Mahatma Mandir in the presence of the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi and Health and Family Welfare Minister of Gujarat, Shri Jay Narayan Vyas. During this session, various 31 companies have signed MUOs worth Rs. 15,600 Crores in health sector and 90 pharmaceutical companies Rs.10,686 Crores in pharma sector during Vibrant Gujarat.

These MoUs include 3 Medicity Projects proposed by North West Creative team Pvt. Ltd, Shrinet and Shandiliya construction Pvt. Ltd. and Swas Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. 21 Multi Specialty Hospital Projects proposed by eminent Hopital and Healhcare groups like Shalby Hospitals Pvt. Ltd., Sanjivani Hospitals, Purohit Construction, Image Healthcare, GVK to name a few. 5 proposals for Medical College with hospitals proposed by Netra Medlink, Dr. Mehta’s Hospital Pvt. Ltd., M.L. Charitable Trust to name a few. Apart from these, 4 Medical Tourism projects, 1 Nursing College, 1 Kidney Hospital, 2 health education and training institutes for paramedicals, 1 Geriatric Hospital, and other PPP model investments have also been proposed in the State.

These Projects will develop State’s health infrastructure alongwith an array of tertiary and super specialty hospitals and shall not only provide medical facilities to the people of Gujarat but also create an opportunity of developing it into a fully equipped medical tourism destination.
These MoUs promise an investment of about Rs. 15,600 Crores in health sector in which 23 companies have proposed an investment of more than Rs. 100 crores each for their project. Three Companies have proposed total investment worth Rs. 9,900 Crores. The State Health and Family Welfare Department has accepted proposals of as many as 3 International and 38 National Companies/Trusts.

In the sector of Pharmaceuticals, 90 companies have expressed their interest to invest about Rs.10,686 Cr. during Vibrant Gujarat, 2011 Global Summit. 21 Companies with Rs.922.39 Cr. investment is coming for new establishment. U.S. based companies like M/s. Acquiescent Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd, M/s. Amneal Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd, M/s. Kalintis Pharma Pvt. Ltd. are intending to invest Rs.574 Cr. 9 companies from other States are interested to invest Rs. 5652 Cr. Out of these M/s. Nectar Lifesciences Ltd is investing Rs.5000 Cr. Other eminent investors are M/s. Ranbaxy Laboratories, M/s. Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, M/s. Dishman Pharmaceuticals Ltd, M/s. Cadila Healthcare Ltd etc. Apart from this, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has also recently signed Knowledge Sharing MOUs with 62 international and national institutions of Global repute on 10th January, 2011.